Academy apologizes to Sacheen Littlefeather nearly 50 years after rejecting an Oscar on Marlon Brando's behalf

foxnews.com:

After nearly half a century, the Academy is issuing a long-overdue apology to Sacheen Littlefeather for mistreatment at the 45th Academy Awards in 1973.

At the time, "The Godfather" was the talk of the town, and it earned Hollywood icon Marlon Brando an Oscar for Best Actor that year.

Instead of a typical acceptance speech given at the podium, Brando sent Littlefeather in his place, not only to decline the award but to enlighten the crowd on the poor representation and portrayals of Native Indians in television and film.

Littlefeather, who was 26, was met with roaring boos from the audience and mocking by way of "tomahawk chops." Sacheen Littlefeather is pictured here declining to accept Marlon Brando's Oscar for Best Actor, not even touching the statue, per Brando's instructions. (Bettmann) Additionally, during this time, was an ongoing protest at a South Dakota town called Wounded Knee, where an activist organization, theAmerican Indian Movement, was calling attention to the lack of inclusion and poor treatment of Native Americans.This topic being broached on national television was something that went directly against the media blackout enforced by the United States Justice Department.