Sacheen Littlefeather says John Wayne’s response to her was ‘most violent moment ever’ at Oscars – but she’d do it again ‘in a heartbeat’

Activist Littlefeather has lastly acquired an apology from the Academy (Image: Getty)

Sacheen Littlefeather has recalled the ‘violent’ aftermath to her well-known 1973 Academy Awards speech, rejecting the most effective actor Oscar on Marlon Brando’s behalf as she protested Native American mistreatment.

Nonetheless, she revealed she would do it another time ‘in a heartbeat’.

The American actress, 75, was simply 26 years outdated when she took to the stage as Marlon Brando was awarded the gong for greatest actor for his function in The Godfather.

Littlefeather declined the award on his behalf, with directions from the movie star to not contact the trophy, as she made a speech underneath 60 seconds lengthy to keep away from the specter of arrest by safety ought to she run over the one minute mark.

Now, she’s claimed that John Wayne’s response to her protest was ‘essentially the most violent second’ that has ever occurred on the Academy Awards.

This follows the Academy’s letter of apology issued to her final month, virtually 50 years later, and forward of particular occasion An Night With Sacheen Littlefeather, to be placed on this weekend on the Academy Museum.

The then 26-year-old rejected the most effective actor Oscar on Marlon Brando’s behalf as a protest for the way in which Native People have been handled (Image: Bettmann Archive)

John Wayne, pictured right here in 1970, was a Hollywood heavyweight identified for his Western movies (Image: Silver Display screen Assortment/Getty Pictures)

Littlefeather informed Selection: ‘I heard a disturbance from behind me as I used to be talking up on the podium. I discovered that he had been restrained by six safety males from assaulting me whereas I used to be on that stage.

‘That was essentially the most violent second that had ever taken place on the Academy Awards.’

Confirming that she heard of The Searchers star’s response from a safety guard, the activist mentioned it was ‘by no means publicised’.

‘He was by no means admonished by the Academy. It was by no means printed within the press. However essentially the most violent moments happened then and there on the Academy Awards by John Wayne,’ she added. 

Littlefeather with the letter written by Brando, which she learn out (Image: Michael Ochs Archvies/Getty Pictures)

Nonetheless, she harbours no regrets over her actions that fateful night, saying she would do it once more ‘in a heartbeat’.

‘I didn't do that completely for Marlon. I didn't do that on my behalf. I did this for all Native individuals in all places who suffered from racial prejudice and discrimination,’ she mentioned.

Recalling her friendship with A Streetcar Named Want and The Godfather actor Brando, Littlefeather referred to as the display icon ‘an ideal prankster’ and remembered that ‘we used to take a seat collectively, speak and simply snicker our a**es off’.

She is ready to be a particular visitor of the Academy at an occasion this weekend, following its formal apology (Image: Beck Starr/FilmMagic)

She additionally claimed that he ‘understood racial prejudice in a means that most individuals don't, and that was refreshing to me’. 

Following the Academy’s formal apology, the complete assertion is to be learn out on the Academy Museum on September 17, when the actress can be invited as a visitor of honour to a particular occasion, which can encourage attendees to replicate on the historic night from the 1973 awards and ‘concentrate on a future based on therapeutic and celebration’.

Brando in his Oscar-winning function as The Godfather’s Don Corleone (Image: Paramount/Getty Pictures)

She may also take part in a dialog with producer Fowl Runningwater, co-chair of the Academy’s Indigenous Alliance, who is alleged to have been the primary individual to succeed in out to her on the Academy’s behalf.

‘I don’t maintain anger, hate or have any animosity towards anybody, together with the Academy and the John Waynes of the world,’ Littlefeather informed the publication.