Shaping culture and breaking barriers
For many people in entertainment, receiving an industry award is an honor and a career highlight. Whether it's an Academy Award for a role on the stage or screen or a Grammy Award for a musical piece, industry awards are coveted by many.
There have been times in history, however, when the winners of such awards have returned their accolades or even refused to accept them in the first place. Their reasons for doing so vary, and some motivations are more profound than others.
Curious? Check out this gallery to find out more.
Actor Tom Cruise made the news in 2021 when he returned his three Golden Globes. He did this as a protest against the lack of diversity among the body that runs the awards.
His decision to return the prestigious awards came at a time when the Hollywood Foreign Press Association (HFPA) was under heavy fire for its lack of diversity.
Cruise won Golden Globes for his performances in 'Born on the Fourth of July' (1989), 'Jerry Maguire' (1996), and 'Magnolia' (1999).
In November 1969, former Beatles member John Lennon returned his award of Member of the Order of the British Empire (not an industry award, but a prestigious honor nonetheless).
As reported by the BBC at the time, the musician and activist had been "mulling over" the decision to return the award for a few years before he actually did so.
Lennon decided to return the award as a protest against Britain's role in the Nigerian Civil War and the British government's support of the United States in Vietnam.
Sources suggest that actor Tom Hanks once tried to return two of his Oscars to the Academy Awards. However, he didn't do it out of protest.
When the Academy Awards told him that the trophies could not be polished up, but that he could have new ones, he refused. Instead he banned everyone from touching them and spoiling them further.
Rather, Hanks wanted to return the Oscars he won for 'Philadelphia' (1994) and 'Forrest Gump' (1995) because they were looking a bit worse for wear and needed a cleaning.
However, Nichols decided to refuse his award because of the Academy's failure to acknowledge the work of the Screen Writer's Guild, an organization in which he was heavily involved.
Nichols was up for Best Screenplay for his screen adaptation of Liam O'Flaherty's novel 'The Informer' (1925). His would have been the fourth award won out of a total six nominations.
There have been very few Academy Award refusals over the years, but the first one came early—screenwriter Dudley Nichols refused his Oscar at the eighth ceremony in 1936.
Upon receiving his nomination, Scott refused to accept it. He sent a telegram to the Academy, asking not to be considered for the award.
American actor George C. Scott refused Academy Award recognition twice in his career. The first was in 1962 when he was nominated for his role in 'The Hustler' (1961).
He then went on to win an Oscar at the 1972 awards, but once again he refused the honor and didn't bother turning up to the ceremony.
Refusing the award as a protest against the industry's mistreatment of Native Americans in movies, he sent activist Sacheen Littlefeather to reject the award in his place.
Perhaps the most famous Oscar rejection of all time was that of Marlon Brando, who refused to accept an award for his role in 'The Godfather' (1972).
Littlefeather took with her an eight-page letter from Brando explaining his refusal, but she was unable to read it because she was threatened with arrest after just 60 seconds.
In 2008, however, she released a statement explaining that she didn't think she'd been given sufficient material during that season to warrant an Emmy nomination.
Actor Katherine Heigl surprised fans in 2008 when she withdrew her name from consideration for an Emmy.
She had previously won one for Best Supporting Actress in 2007 for her performance as Dr. Izzie Stevens on 'Grey's Anatomy.'
The reason for her decision to withdraw her name was that she felt the rest of the cast and the production team had been snubbed.
She was a favorite to win the award, but announced during a matinee performance that she was withdrawing her name from consideration.
In 1996, Julie Andrews refused a Tony Award nomination for her starring role in the Broadway musical 'Victor/Victoria' (1995).
In 1969, actor William Daniels refused a Tony nomination for his role as John Adams in the Broadway musical '1776.'
Daniels felt that he had the leading role in the production, but when he asked to switch categories his request was refused. At that point, he pulled out of the awards.
The reason he refused consideration was that he felt his role had been wrongly categorized as a supporting role.
The singer went on to win the Grammy for Best Alternative Music Performance, but she refused to accept it.
Sources: (BBC) (New York Times) (IMDb)
See also: From Nobel prizes to Grammys: Awards won by US presidents
Just days before she was due to perform at the ceremony, however, she announced she was boycotting the Grammys and all other awards shows as a protest against the "false and destructive materialistic values" of the music industry.
In 1990, the 'Nothing Compares 2 U' singer, Sinead O'Connor, was nominated in four categories ahead of the 33rd annual Grammy Awards.
Actors and musicians who returned their industry awards
Whether out of protest or otherwise
CELEBRITY Winners
For many people in entertainment, receiving an industry award is an honor and a career highlight. Whether it's an Academy Award for a role on screen or a Grammy Award for a musical piece, industry awards are coveted by many.
There have been times in history, however, when the winners of such awards have returned their accolades or even refused to accept them in the first place. Their reasons for doing so vary, and some motivations are more profound than others.
Curious? Check out this gallery to find out more.