SAG-AFTRA Claims Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences Chopper Squad Threatened to Give Reluctant Oscar Presenters a Chicago Overcoat

 The Academy has been in a bit of a panic since Kevin Hart stepped down as host, and apparently they’ve gone full 1920s gangster and sent some yeggs over to put the screws to anyone who doesn’t know their onions and wanted to present at another awards show, but those wurps at SAG-AFTRA weren’t having it.

I mean, I’m joking, but I’m not far off from how SAG-AFTRA described the Academy’s attempts to secure exclusive presenters for the Oscars.

SAG-AFTRA has fielded numerous requests to respond to assertions that the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences exerts extraordinary and unwarranted pressure on talent to hold them from appearing at other award presentations.

We have received multiple reports of these activities and have experienced firsthand the Academy’s graceless pressure tactics and attempts to control the awards show talent pipeline. Awards season is a very special time when actors and actresses are being appropriately celebrated and recognized for the outstanding quality of their work. We would expect the Academy to honor these goals.

In this country, you gotta make the money first. Then when you get the money, you get the power. Then when you get the power, then you get the women. Oh sorry, I got a little caught up. You see, as far back as I can remember, I wanted to be an awards show presenter.

I half expect this story to end with Kevin Hart agreeing to host and saying “Every time I think I’m out, they pull me back in!”

I just kind of love the way groups like the Academy and SAG talk about what they do like it’s the most important thing. I mean, okay SAG is a union and they do good work looking out for their members, fair enough. But especially around awards time, Liam Neeson will come on stage and talk about how movies have the power to change the world or something, but I’ve seen some really great movies and Donald Trump is still president so I don’t think we all need to stand around blowing ourselves at half a dozen different awards show because we’re all so important.