The Academy is breaking a longstanding tradition for this year’s Oscars.
According to an exclusive report by Variety, Jennifer Lawrence and Jodie Foster will present the 2018 award for Best Actress in lieu of Casey Affleck.
There’s been an established practice for the previous year’s Oscar winners to present the same category for the opposite gender at the Academy Awards. Affleck, who won the 2017 Best Actor category for his performance in Manchester By the Sea, was expected to present the Best Actress honor at this year’s Oscars, however his representatives later announced he was withdrawing from the ceremony in wake of sexual misconduct allegations brought against him.
Producer Amanda White and cinematographer Magdalena Gorka had each filed a lawsuit against the 42-year-old actor for alleged sexual harassment during the filming of I’m Still Here. Though both suits were eventually settled out of court, Affleck’s representatives said he decided not to attend the 2018 Oscars because he didn’t want to be a “distraction.” It was an understandable move, as the current award season has been dominated by discussions about sexual misconduct and gender inequality.
Variety also reports Jane Fonda and Helen Mirren will be presenting this year’s Best Actor category, instead of Emma Stone who won in 2017 for La La Land. Stone’s name still appears on the 2018 list of presenters, but it’s unclear which category she will announce.
The 90th annual Academy Awards will air live at 8 p.m. ET this Sunday on ABC.
