Casey Affleck drops out of presenting Best Actress Oscar amid sexual misconduct allegations

  • Affleck, 42, has informed the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences that he will not attend the March 4 ceremony
  • He was due to present the Best Actress category, having won Best Actor in 2017
  • It is claimed the star however does not want to become a 'distraction' this year
  • Affleck's 2017 win was clouded by lingering, years-old allegations of sexual misconduct 
  • In 2010, he settled two lawsuits from women who said he harassed them while working together on I'm Still Here
  • When Brie Larson awarded him with his Oscar last year, she refused to applaud
  • Her on-stage protest reminded the world of the 2010 allegations and lawsuits  
  • It is not known who will take Affleck's place on the stage

By Jennifer Smith For Dailymail.com

Published: 15:29 EST, 25 January 2018 | Updated: 12:44 EST, 26 January 2018

Casey Affleck has withdrawn from the Oscars where he was due to present the Best Actress award. 

On Thursday, it was revealed the 42-year-old had notified the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences that he will not be attending this year's awards on March 4. 

Sources said he does not want to distract from the women nominated in the category he was due to present. 

Affleck's decision comes a year after his controversial victory in the male category and in the thick of the Me Too movement. 

In 2017, he took home the Oscar for his performance in Manchester By The Sea, a win which offended actresses including Brie Larson because of lingering accusations that he sexually harassed or was inappropriate towards two female colleagues in 2010. 

Casey Affleck (above at the 2017 Oscars after winning Best Actor) has withdrawn from this year's ceremony where he was due to present the Best Actress award 

Casey Affleck (above at the 2017 Oscars after winning Best Actor) has withdrawn from this year's ceremony where he was due to present the Best Actress award 

Affleck settled their allegations with undisclosed financial sums and the topic was scarcely discussed. 

When Larson refused to applaud him last year, she reminded the industry of those allegations.  

As the winner of the 2016 Best Actress award, she had been tasked with presenting Affleck the honor.

After calling it his name out, she watched from the side as he accepted the award and thanked colleagues and families.  

Her disdained face was the image which became synonymous with his victory. 

Among the nominees in this year's category for Best Actress are Frances McDormand, a forceful voice in the Me Too, Time's Up movement, and feminist favorite Meryl Streep.    

Saoirse Ronan, Margot Robbie and Sally Hawkins are also nominated. 

The news that Affleck would no longer be attending was revealed first by Deadline. 

The allegations against Affleck were made by two women who worked with him while he filmed I'm Still Here, a little known picture produced by Joaquin Phoenix, Affleck's former brother-in-law. 

In 2017, Brie Larson refused to applaud Affleck as she presented him with his Best Actor award because of the allegations against him 

In 2017, Brie Larson refused to applaud Affleck as she presented him with his Best Actor award because of the allegations against him 

As Hollywood fawned over the 42-year-old, Larson, who had to present the award to him because she had won the Best Actress award the year earlier, watched on in disdain 

As Hollywood fawned over the 42-year-old, Larson, who had to present the award to him because she had won the Best Actress award the year earlier, watched on in disdain 

After the awards, Larson said her solemn expression throughout Affleck's acceptance speech and as they walked off stage 'spoke for itself' 

After the awards, Larson said her solemn expression throughout Affleck's acceptance speech and as they walked off stage 'spoke for itself' 

Amanda White
Magdalena Gorka

Amanda White (left) and Magdalena Gorka (right) both worked with Affleck on the 2010 film I'm Still Here. They alleged in separate lawsuits that he routinely harassed them

The alleged misconduct happened while Affleck worked on the 2010 mockumentary with Joaquin Phoenix, I'm Still Here

The alleged misconduct happened while Affleck worked on the 2010 mockumentary with Joaquin Phoenix, I'm Still Here

Producer Amanda White alleged that Affleck showed her his penis, tried to coerce her into hotel rooms and used her room to have sex with a woman while Phoenix had sex with another on the set. 

Casey's brother Ben Affleck (seen above congratulating him last year) may still attend. He apologized for his own inappropriate treatment of actresses in October 

Casey's brother Ben Affleck (seen above congratulating him last year) may still attend. He apologized for his own inappropriate treatment of actresses in October 

She also alleged that he once grabbed her forcibly when she refused to go to the hotel room with him. 

Afterwards, she claimed that he sent her text messages where he called her 'profane names'. 

She made the allegations in a $2million lawsuit filed in 2010. 

Magdalena Gorka, the film's director of photography, made similar complaints in a separate lawsuit where described Affleck's treatment of her as 'the most traumatizing of her career.' 

In her suit, she alleged that Affleck climbed into a bed she was sleeping in while she was unconscious and undressed to his t-shirt and underwear.

When she woke up, the woman claimed he was rubbing her back and was close to her face.

He protested when she asked him to leave, she claimed. 

Other allegations that he referred to women as 'cows' and was routinely sexually or profane in remarks were included in the complaints.  

Affleck denied the allegations when they were filed in the lawsuits but he ultimately settled both with sums. 

Potential recipients: Frances McDormand and Meryl Streep are among the nominees this year for Best Actress. Both are feminist powerhouses
Potential recipients: Frances McDormand and Meryl Streep are among the nominees this year for Best Actress. Both are feminist powerhouses

Potential recipients: Frances McDormand and Meryl Streep are among the nominees this year for Best Actress. Both are feminist powerhouses

Affleck, 42, allegedly did not want to be a 'distraction' at this year's ceremony. He has always denied allegations of misconduct. The star is pictured on January 6 with actress Floriana Lima 

Affleck, 42, allegedly did not want to be a 'distraction' at this year's ceremony. He has always denied allegations of misconduct. The star is pictured on January 6 with actress Floriana Lima 

This year's Oscars will conclude an eventful awards season which is the first since the film and television industry's reckoning over decades of sexual harassment and abuse against its female stars. 

It is the first without Harvey Weinstein, whose alleged mistreatment of women sparked the movement. 

Affleck and his wife Summer divorced last year after 10 years of marriage. They have two children together. 

The star's brother Ben Affleck found himself caught up in the sexual misconduct scandal last year and apologized over an old appearance on TRL where he groped actress Hilarie Burton's breast. 

As the scandal drew in momentum and size, Ben tweeted his regret about the grope and conceded that he had acted 'inappropriately'.

He later donated all of his Miramax and Weinstein Company residuals to charities which benefit women. 

Jimmy Kimmel will host this year's Oscars again.  

Affleck was married to Joaquin Phoenix's sister Summer when the alleged misconduct took place. In the lawsuits, the women claimed Phoenix was witness to some of it. Affleck and Summer divorced last year after 10 years of marriage. They have two children 

Affleck was married to Joaquin Phoenix's sister Summer when the alleged misconduct took place. In the lawsuits, the women claimed Phoenix was witness to some of it. Affleck and Summer divorced last year after 10 years of marriage. They have two children 

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