Speculation swirled around Brie Larson’s noticeable discomfort around Casey Affleck as she presented him with several awards recently, culminating in his Best Actor Oscar for Manchester by the Sea.
It’s customary for the previous year’s Best Actress winner to hand over the Best Actor trophy at leading movie award ceremonies such as the Oscars, the BAFTAs and the SAG Awards.
Larson, who won a plethora of awards for Room a year ago, has confirmed she had a beef about having to share the stage with Affleck.
Larson shares the feminist unease with Affleck over the fact the actor had settled suits alleging sexual harassment from two women who worked on his documentary film I’m Still Here in 2010. (He was never charged with a crime; the cases were civil.)
At the Oscars last month, after handing Affleck the award, Larson responded in somewhat muted fashion, standing with both her arms at her side and not clapping. In January at the Golden Globes, Larson offered a terse “congratulations” to Affleck while handing over the award at arm’s length, avoiding close contact. She didn’t shake his hand, never mind proffering the customary kiss.
Asked by Vanity Fair at the premiere of her latest movie Kong: Skull Island about about her attitude to Affleck, she confirmed that her apparent hostility was calculated. Larson said: “I think that whatever it was that I did onstage kind of spoke for itself. I’ve said all that I need to say about that topic.”
Although Affleck is as reluctant to open up on the issue as Larson, somehow you suspect this won’t be the last word on all this.
