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Casey Affleck has responded to the controversy that surrounded him as he accepted the Oscar for Best Actor for his role in Manchester By The Sea this week.
Sexual assault allegations against the star, which stem from two lawsuits filed against him in 2010 by women that worked with him on I’m Still Here, returned to the spotlight following his Oscar nomination for the Kenneth Lonergan-directed drama. At the time Affleck denied the claims, which involve accusations of sexual harassment including unwelcome physical advances, and settled out of court, a decision which made some question why he didn’t go the legal route if he had nothing to hide.
Following Affleck’s Oscar win, actor B.J. Novak tweeted “Can we check Best Actor again” and Constance Wu wrote “Boys! BUY ur way out of trouble by settling out of court! Just do a good acting job,thats all that matters! bc Art isn’t about humanity, right?”
Asked about the controversy by the Boston Globe on Wednesday, Casey gave a vague but seemingly prepared response that sounded like a denial, although he didn’t outright address specific claims.
“I believe that any kind of mistreatment of anyone for any reason is unacceptable and abhorrent, and everyone deserves to be treated with respect in the workplace and anywhere else,” he said.
“There’s really nothing I can do about it. Other than live my life the way I know I live it and to speak to what my own values are and how I try to live by them all the time.”
The most notably negative reaction to Casey’s Oscar win was actress Brie Larson, who presented Affleck with his award on the night but refused to applaud him. An advocate for survivors of sexual assault, and having played a woman who was repeatedly raped by her kidnapper in Room Larson – who also had to present Affleck with a Golden Globe just last month – was obviously disappointed.
