And the Oscar for boycotting goes to…
Many top celebrities have chosen to skip the prestigious Academy Awards over the years, citing reasons ranging from political statements to personal disinterest in the honors.
Amanda Seyfried recently joined this group, stating ahead of the 2026 Oscars that winning isn’t important to her. When asked about the significance of an Oscar, the actress remarked, “No. Do you remember who won in the past 10 years?” Though her limited series “Long Bright River” earned a Golden Globe nomination, Seyfried emphasized that recognition matters more than victory: “It’s not the win that’s important. It’s the nomination. It does thrust you forward.”
Other notable Oscars absences include:
Elizabeth Taylor & Richard Burton (1966)
The power couple skipped the ceremony despite being nominated for “Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?” Burton, having lost four previous nominations, refused to attend. Taylor won Best Actress but wasn’t present to accept.
Marlon Brando (1973)
The “Godfather” winner sent Native American activist Sacheen Littlefeather to decline his Best Actor award in protest of Hollywood’s treatment of Native Americans. The speech was met with boos.
Woody Allen
The filmmaker regularly avoids awards shows, calling the concept “silly.” He missed his 1978 triple win for “Annie Hall” and attended only once in 2003 to honor post-9/11 New York films.
Paul Newman (1987)
After six losses, Newman won for “The Color of Money” but skipped the event, quipping, “It’s like chasing a beautiful woman for 80 years. Finally, she relents, and you say, ‘I’m terribly sorry. I’m tired.’”
Eminem (2003)
The rapper stayed home when his “8 Mile” song “Lose Yourself” won Best Original Song, later admitting he didn’t expect to win. Cowriter Luis Resto accepted the Oscar.
Will Smith (2016)
Smith boycotted over #OscarsSoWhite diversity issues, stating he was “uncomfortable” endorsing a system with two consecutive years of all-white acting nominees. He later faced a 10-year Oscars ban after slapping Chris Rock in 2022.
Spike Lee (2016)
The director declined his honorary Oscar protest, posting on Instagram: “How is it possible for the 2nd consecutive year all 20 contenders under the actor category are white? We can’t act?! WTF!!”