Seth MacFarlane condemned by Calif. lawmakers for Oscar hosting performance
Academy President Hawk Koch asked to disavow host's behavior
Seth MacFarlane
Credit: AP Photo
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SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — Two female California state lawmakers have condemned Oscar host Seth MacFarlane's comments during Sunday's awards presentation as degrading toward women and asked the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences to use better judgment in the future.
Assemblywoman Bonnie Lowenthal and Sen. Hannah-Beth Jackson, both Democrats who lead the Legislature's women's caucus, sent a letter to Academy President Hawk Koch on Tuesday, requesting that the organization disavow MacFarlane's behavior.
They objected to the comedian's focus on the physical appearance of several actresses and quips about nude scenes.
"Furthermore, there was a disturbing theme about violence against women being acceptable and funny," the lawmakers wrote. "From topical jabs about domestic violence to singing about 'boobs' during a film's rape scene, Seth MacFarlane crossed the line from humor to misogyny."
MacFarlane's performance has drawn multiple critics since Sunday's show. Blogs compiled highlights of his punch lines, which included a song that referenced leading ladies who have bared their breasts on film that were accompanied by reaction shots from those actresses.
He also made light of a domestic violence incident between rapper Chris Brown and singer Rihanna, and joked about the heavy accents of several Latina actresses.
"On Oscar night, when Hollywood seeks to honor its best, Seth MacFarlane's monologue reduced our finest female actresses to caricatures and stereotypes, degrading women as a whole and the filmmaking industry itself," the letter stated.
Lowenthal and Jackson, both Democrats, asked Koch to respond. Academy spokeswoman Toni Thompson had no immediate comment.
In their letter, the lawmakers noted the Violence Against Women Act currently under debate in Congress and a resolution that the Legislature passed supporting the act's reauthorization. Better judgment is needed in the academy's future decisions regarding its awards show hosts and their material, they said.
"This should be a celebration of artists in the filmmaking industry, not an offensive display of disrespect toward women that sets the fight for gender equality, dignity, and respect back decades," they wrote.
A repeat hosting performance by MacFarlane doesn't look likely. Asked Tuesday on Twitter if he would host the Oscars again, he replied, "No way. Lotta fun to have done it, though."
Copyright (2013) Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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February 27, 2013 at 4:18PM EST Reply to CommentSeth is the best host by far...
This has been the best Oscar show in a very very long time!
Post a comment...
February 28, 2013 at 12:20PM ESTKevin He did a great job. His opening joke about getting Tommy Lee Jones to laugh/smile was hilarious, almost fell out pf my chair I laughed so hard. Loved the boob" song. He also has a fantastic singing voice
March 5, 2013 at 10:07PM ESTVivianne
February 27, 2013 at 4:33PM EST Reply to CommentI hate this kind of people, it was just a song none of the actresses complain and the song was really funny and just the true.
Momo Did you not watch the oscars? Salma Hayek was definitely very uncomfortable when she had to go on stage after he bashed her accent and said its ok because people can just stare at her....
February 28, 2013 at 7:25AM ESTcody_nelson
February 27, 2013 at 4:44PM EST Reply to CommentYeah, because he definitely wrote everything he said last Sunday. Great complaint, it's accurate!
Kattlee
February 27, 2013 at 4:44PM EST Reply to Commentthe actresses were in on it..........lighten up!
KlarkKent
February 27, 2013 at 5:23PM EST Reply to Comment*take palm and place onto face*
fred
February 27, 2013 at 5:59PM EST Reply to CommentSeth is the man screw those lawmaker bitches
mario
February 28, 2013 at 7:18PM EST Reply to CommentSeth was an amazing host.... people need to grow a sense of humor, seriously
Matt
March 2, 2013 at 3:48PM EST Reply to CommentA perfect example of people taking themselves too seriously. First of all, why is there even a celebration of artists to begin with? Lol. Did one of them cure Cancer? Relax. He was telling JOKES. I'd hate to be in a room with these two members of the Fun Police. Geez. Talk about taking yourself too seriously. He was FAR more entertaining than the butt kissing and back patting that usually goes on. Lighten up.
juandos
March 2, 2013 at 4:03PM EST Reply to Comment"Assemblywoman Bonnie Lowenthal and Sen. Hannah-Beth Jackson, both Democrats"'...
Well there's the problem in a nutshell...
2 dim-wit-o-crats that help put Klownifornia into financial dire straights...
Can't expect any intelligent critiques from them...
Lisa I thought Seth was great! Most entertaining Oscars show in years!!
March 2, 2013 at 8:36PM ESTcelso alegria It's funny how people not from here take pot-shots out of jealousy.
March 2, 2013 at 8:41PM ESTKen
March 13, 2013 at 2:51AM EST Reply to CommentHumorless twats!
Tom h
March 16, 2013 at 11:53PM EST Reply to Commenthe's a comedian, take a joke. these lawmaking women need to stop being so biased like every person who cracks a demeaning joke is a racist, sexist or whatever. Jokes are jokes, as long as they are, pardon the irony, seriously taken as jokes and nothing more than that. there should be no problem. I suppose we all have our opinions about comedy but some are best just kept to ourselves.
noel
April 11, 2013 at 2:01PM EST Reply to CommentI got seths back