Geena Davis says Oscar host was disrespectful to women
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — Academy Award winner Geena Davis on Monday waded into the ongoing controversy over this year's Oscars ceremony by saying host Seth MacFarlane's routine was disrespectful to women, particularly the performers who were being honored.
The "Thelma & Louise" star said MacFarlane's much-criticized routine last month overshadowed the win of an animated film with a strong female character.
"It's a shame that that triumph was enveloped in an awards ceremony containing disrespect for women," Davis told members of the California Assembly during a ceremony in Sacramento. "But it helps illustrate how tone-deaf we can still be regarding the status of women."
She commended "Brave," which won best animated picture, as setting a positive example for girls.
Davis, who won a best supporting actress Oscar for "The Accidental Tourist" in 1988, was in the state capital as one of 11 California women honored for their achievements.
She is chairwoman of state Commission on the Status of Women and Girls and founded a nonprofit that promotes gender equality in the media.
Last week, two female state lawmakers sent a letter to the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences asking it to condemn MacFarlane's quips about nude scenes and the attractiveness of several female actresses as degrading toward women. At one point during the Oscars ceremony, MacFarlane performed a song about "boobs" and referenced several rape scenes among his list of movies with actresses appearing topless.
The academy issued a general statement defending MacFarlane and saying the award show is about "creative freedom."
Sen. Hannah-Beth Jackson, a Santa Barbara Democrat who co-authored the letter, said Monday that she was disappointed the academy did not address her concerns.
"I might say after last Sunday's Academy Awards, we need you more than ever," said Jackson, referring to Davis' work on gender issues as she introduced the actress and other honorees on the Senate floor.
In her remarks to Assembly members, Davis said much work remains to ensure equal opportunities for young women. The state commission she leads is focused on the areas of women and families in the military, in business, health and safety, education, and gender equality in the media.
Davis also referenced Lavonne "Pepper" Paire-Davis, a women's baseball league star in the 1940s and the inspiration for "A League of Their Own." The Los Angeles native, who passed away last month, once described playing baseball as being as second-nature to her as breathing, she said.
"Every girl in California should be able to pursue a dream that's as natural to her as breathing," Davis said. "We need to support them to make sure they have the messages and the tools to get there."
The "Thelma & Louise" star said MacFarlane's much-criticized routine last month overshadowed the win of an animated film with a strong female character.
"It's a shame that that triumph was enveloped in an awards ceremony containing disrespect for women," Davis told members of the California Assembly during a ceremony in Sacramento. "But it helps illustrate how tone-deaf we can still be regarding the status of women."
She commended "Brave," which won best animated picture, as setting a positive example for girls.
Davis, who won a best supporting actress Oscar for "The Accidental Tourist" in 1988, was in the state capital as one of 11 California women honored for their achievements.
She is chairwoman of state Commission on the Status of Women and Girls and founded a nonprofit that promotes gender equality in the media.
Last week, two female state lawmakers sent a letter to the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences asking it to condemn MacFarlane's quips about nude scenes and the attractiveness of several female actresses as degrading toward women. At one point during the Oscars ceremony, MacFarlane performed a song about "boobs" and referenced several rape scenes among his list of movies with actresses appearing topless.
The academy issued a general statement defending MacFarlane and saying the award show is about "creative freedom."
Sen. Hannah-Beth Jackson, a Santa Barbara Democrat who co-authored the letter, said Monday that she was disappointed the academy did not address her concerns.
"I might say after last Sunday's Academy Awards, we need you more than ever," said Jackson, referring to Davis' work on gender issues as she introduced the actress and other honorees on the Senate floor.
In her remarks to Assembly members, Davis said much work remains to ensure equal opportunities for young women. The state commission she leads is focused on the areas of women and families in the military, in business, health and safety, education, and gender equality in the media.
Davis also referenced Lavonne "Pepper" Paire-Davis, a women's baseball league star in the 1940s and the inspiration for "A League of Their Own." The Los Angeles native, who passed away last month, once described playing baseball as being as second-nature to her as breathing, she said.
"Every girl in California should be able to pursue a dream that's as natural to her as breathing," Davis said. "We need to support them to make sure they have the messages and the tools to get there."
Whine, whine, whine.
Is it the host that was "disrespectful" or the producers that actually put on the awards show? I'm fairly certain that the majority of the show is not only scripted, but rehearsed as well, so the production staff should have been well aware in advance.
Seth MacFarlane's style of humor isn't for everyone. Blame whoever picked him to be the host, not the man himself.
Quit your whining you cow!Â
@BeergodÂ
Not helping....
Hogwash.....is what I say.
Yaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaawwwwwwn. Â
Hey Geena, being a guy in this day and age isn't a cake walk either .. maybe you should try it and see... 'jus sayin'.
Meanwhile, Geena Davis is married to an Iranian plastic surgeon. That's not a joke, that's a fact. And if anyone or people are champions for women rights and self-betterment, it's Iranians and plastic surgeons. Oh, the irony Gods have disrobed Geena Davis's humility, and we all see her as a boob.
C'mon Geena. It was Seth MacFarlane. He's disrespectful to everyone!
Just ask Stewie!
"Every girl in California should be able to pursue a dream that's as natural to her as breathing," Davis said. "We need to support them to make sure they have the messages and the tools to get there."
Davis' statement above is disrespectful to men. But I guess she probably can't see that.
Hollyweird disrespectful to women? Nonsense! Next thing they will say is Hollyweird promotes gratuitous violence.Â
Thelma and Louise, now there's a movie with female role models.
Has been Geena Davis makes a big stink over MacFarlane's two bit shtick in a town full of hypocrites.
Senator Jackson and Ms. Davis you make me want to puke!
Â
The very liberal Academy Awards doesn't take criticism kindly especially when it is something that they should already know about.
I do love liberals attacking liberals though.
@RalphCramden
I love when ANY group eats its own.Â
Hypocrisy makes for better comedy.Â
@RalphCramden  Nothing liberal about them, Ralph. They're actors.
I predicted McFarlane would be a disaster.
He was disrespectful to EVERYONE there, mostly because he recognizes them as pretentious, stuck-up cows and ego-maniacal cluetards. Listening to Tarantino repeat the word "I" while the music tried to play him out was embarrassing.
I liked when he introduced the cast of Chicago because, he said, obviously the Oscars weren't already gay enough.
MacFarlane was the only one worth watching.
@Playanekes --- didn't watch it, who cares about Hollyweird patting themselves on the back for making trash. Go suck an egg Hollyjerks.
@Playanekes I hate Seth McFarlane, but I agree with you. Tarantino is a douch*bag.
When did Gina Davis get old and so very uncool....it's a joke, baby, just go with it.  I'm channeling my inner Dean Martin....Just loosen up, baby, it'll get easier. Seriously, it is really sad that Gina has to take to whining and complaining to get any attention in Hollywood...I see some dolphin activism or PETA or Vegan ism in her future....somebody; save America from another whiny Hollywood Activist....quickly toss Gina a bone so at least she can find relevance with a K-9 audience.
@Icarus I don't know, she's not looking bad for 57, but yes, she needs to understand that sometimes comedy makes people a little uncomfortable. It's all part of the joke.
@Icarus I don't know, Gina Seems pretty spot on with her critique. Imagine If someone picked on your for your atrocious punctuation use, spelling, or use of run on sentences the way every woman has been told to "just loosen up". I'll chalk it up to considering the source, as I bet you're a unf#*kable chud who wishes women would "just loosen up" their standards and give a loser like you a chance
@nugefan503 That was pretty funny....except I don't think that you intended to be funny but rather serious and insulting like your hero/idol who also doesn't have a sense of humor.  Why is it that idiots and fundamentalists simply have no sense of humor?  Probably comes from taking it up the adz too many times.
@Agness P Weatherby well, I did intend to be funny. As for my hero/Idol, do you think I would be taking a moron to task for acting like a moron if the Nuge was my Idol? No, my terminal gonzalitis would force me to high five him and say "BOOBS OR GTFO" It's Obvious that i was being snarky. As for being insulting, it's no where near as insulting as you implying a male who engages in sex with another man is doing something wrong. you seem to be kind of a grade a T W A T
What a wizened old hag.
Hollywood was founded on, and is floating in, a sea of Sex, Drugs, and Rock and Roll.
And yes, that includes boobies.
@Lo Pan -- fake boobies at that, in fact everything's fake in Hollyweird. I never watch Family Guy, not funny.
@Lo Pan We never saw Gina's skinny but pert boobies but she teased us; I'm thinking mud flaps now...and that is probably her biggest problem with Seth McFarland...she's not even a blip on his radar.  Maybe Seth will toss her a Family Guy bone just to perk up her day.Â
@Icarus @Lo Pan "Mud flaps"....OMFG...LMAO!!Â
How...disrespectful...(-snerk-)