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California female lawmakers condemn Oscar host
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) -- Two female California state lawmakers have
condemned Oscar host Seth MacFarlane's comments during Sunday's awards
presentation as degrading toward women, and asked the Academy of Motion Picture
Arts and Sciences to use better judgment in the future.
Assemblywoman Bonnie Lowenthal and Sen. Hannah-Beth Jackson, both Democrats
who lead the Legislature's women's caucus, sent a letter to Academy President
Hawk Koch on Tuesday, requesting that the organization disavow MacFarlane's
behavior.
They objected to the comedian's focus on the physical appearance of several
actresses and quips about nude scenes.
"Furthermore, there was a disturbing theme about violence against women being
acceptable and funny," the lawmakers wrote. "From topical jabs about domestic
violence to singing about 'boobs' during a film's rape scene, Seth MacFarlane
crossed the line from humor to misogyny."
MacFarlane's performance has drawn multiple critics since Sunday's show.
Blogs compiled highlights of his punch lines, which included a song that
referenced leading ladies who have bared their breasts on film that were
accompanied by reaction shots from those actresses.
He also made light of a domestic violence incident between rapper Chris Brown
and singer Rihanna, and joked about the heavy accents of several Latina
actresses.
"On Oscar night, when Hollywood seeks to honor its best, Seth MacFarlane's
monologue reduced our finest female actresses to caricatures and stereotypes,
degrading women as a whole and the filmmaking industry itself," the letter
stated.
Lowenthal and Jackson asked Koch to respond. Academy spokeswoman Toni
Thompson had no immediate comment.
In their letter, the lawmakers noted the Violence Against Women Act currently
under debate in Congress, and a resolution that the Legislature passed
supporting the act's reauthorization. Better judgment is needed in the academy's
future decisions regarding its awards show hosts and their material, they
said.
"This should be a celebration of artists in the filmmaking industry, not an
offensive display of disrespect toward women that sets the fight for gender
equality, dignity, and respect back decades," they wrote.
A repeat hosting performance by MacFarlane doesn't look likely. Asked Tuesday
on Twitter if he would host the Oscars again, he replied, "No way. Lotta fun to
have done it, though."
those political C#$t WHORES!!!!! All week leading up to the Oscars......we're bombarded with topics such as 'What's so & so wearing....the gown....the jewels......the weirdass hairdos, etc.' Then on the red carpet, instead of talking about FILM......( which is supposed to be the primary focus of the event...) we're subjected to hours on end of over-the-top flaming fashion critics.....attacking every actress walking the guantlet....for any hair out of place....or 'nip slip'. Jeezus H. KEEEERiste! They were all over Anne Hathaway for looking a bit 'perky' in her festive pink dress...( I liked it! )........What a bunch of F#%kin' old PRUDES! Seth was good......The material was SOMEWHAT better than the lame crap we seem to get every year from writers such as that Bruce Valanch fella. You should bring Seth BACK....and throw in Gilbert Gottfried as a 'kicker'. next year
These idiots didn't even notice the actresses were in on the joke. Simply look at Cherlize Theron feigning disgust, she is wearing a differnet, black, dress, and it is mere minutes before her dance number with Channing Tatum, were she is back in a white dress. Their "reaction shots" were filmed ahead of time. The actresses obviously have a far better sense of humor than the angry lawmakers. Fix your budgets, and focus on real problems, you morons.
Funny, lawmakers who can't do their job complain about how someone else does theirs. It's entertainment! No political correctness required! Maybe Assemblywoman Bonnie Lowenthal and Sen. Hannah-Beth Jackson should run for office in Washington. They will fit in with all the rest of the idiots!
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