38. Marlon Brando and Sacheen Littlefeather (1973)
Marlon Brando boycotted the Oscars and sent Native American activist Sacheen Littlefeather to decline his Best Actor award for The Godfather in protest of Hollywood’s treatment of Native Americans. The crowd booed and the moment turned tense.
The political statement created one of the most divisive and awkward acceptance refusals ever.
