Welp, it happened. Casey Affleck won an Academy Award for Manchester By The Sea. The scruffy actor is a divisive figure in Hollywood. Clearly, he's got talent. But there are some murky sexual abuse allegations lurking in past that prevent him from rising to beloved status.
To boot, Affleck, 41, had stiff competition in the category of Best Actor. Namely, Denzel Washington. Denzel Washington is pretty intimidating competition, especially when he's nominated for a film like Fences. (Washington both starred in and directed the film.) This was really Casey versus Denzel, and Washington fans aren't pleased with Affleck's win. In Manchester By The Sea, Affleck played a man who returned to his hometown — Manchester — after his brother's death. It's a melancholy film with critical acclaim. Usually, films like these sweep the Oscars. Affleck has already received a Golden Globe for role. So, all signs pointed to Casey. Nevertheless, Twitter ain't happy.
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Me when Casey Affleck won best actor over Denzel. #Oscars pic.twitter.com/wK7kVn3lqH
— Matthew A. Cherry (@MatthewACherry) February 27, 2017
"and the oscar goes to... casey affleck"pic.twitter.com/evLonGF2FG
— larissa (@wpoedameron) February 27, 2017
Casey Affleck won Best Actor.
— Allie Beauregard (@AllieBeauregard) February 27, 2017
Donald Trump is president.
Tell me again how sexual assault charges can "ruin" a man's career. ?
And there seems to be evidence that others aren't happy about the win, either. Brie Larson, who announced the award, gave a brief smirk, which, to be fair, could have just been a facial tic.
who hates casey affleck more: me or brie larson? it's a close call.. #oscars pic.twitter.com/SoymUAhRex
— jamie (@dylanohollands) February 27, 2017
Even Denzel Washington looked a little disgruntled.
Casey Affleck: "I always admired Denzel"
— Shujaat Shah (@ShujaatShah13) February 27, 2017
Denzel: #Oscars pic.twitter.com/pLrS9RXwOU
Affleck then gave a fairly simple speech. Some would call it disappointing. In the interest of diplomacy, I'll stick with simple.
"Dammit," he began. He then acknowledged his competition: "One of the first people who taught me how to act was Denzel Washington and I just met him tonight. Thank you." As one does, Affleck thanked the various people involved in the production, and seemed apologetic that he didn't have anything "more meaningful" to say.
"Man, I wish I had something bigger and more meaningful to say," he said. "I'm just really proud to be a part of this community in general." He then said, sweetly, "it means a lot to me" and also thanked Matt Damon.
Affleck's detractors weren't pleased with the speech, either. In this era, any speech is an opportunity to make a political statement. (Almost everything down to the dresses is political at a high-profile ceremony like the Academy Awards.) But Affleck's speech neglected to wander into political territory. Nor was it sweet, charming or funny. It simply was. Emily Nussbaum, a television critic for The New Yorker, admitted that Affleck was probably talented, but the speech was lacking.
I'm sure Casey Affleck is good in the movie, but that wasn't much of a speech.
— emily nussbaum (@emilynussbaum) February 27, 2017
And Chrissy Teigen appeared to be asleep during the whole thing.
Chrissy Teigen was all of us during Casey Affleck's acceptance speech. #Oscars pic.twitter.com/Ys4HuhueFF
— Patrick Quaife (@pquaife) February 27, 2017
Oh, and Piers Morgan loved the speech. (Do with that information what you will.)
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Nice, humble, heartfelt, non-political speech by Casey Affleck.
— Piers Morgan (@piersmorgan) February 27, 2017
Beginning to think they all read my column. #oscars
See for yourself how the whole shebang went down — watch Affleck's entire speech, below.
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