Top 10 Award Show Winners Who Rejected The Awards
#10: DJ Jazzy Jeff & the Fresh Prince
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“31st Annual Grammy Awards” (1989) In 1989, the Grammy's included a new category for Rap music, and the first recipients were The Fresh Prince and DJ Jazzy Jeff. However, the excitement of this historic moment was short-lived when the award show decided not to televise the category. Nominated for their song, "Parents Just Don't Understand," the music duo chose to boycott the entire award ceremony. In his autobiography, Will Smith referred to it as a "slap in the face." The Grammy's eventually started to air the category, proving that if you want change, taking a stand is the way to go.
#9: Tom Cruise
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“47th, 54th, & 57th Golden Globe Awards” (1990; 1997; 2000) Tom Cruise made headlines in 2021 when it was announced that he would be returning his Golden Globe awards. Having won for "Born on the Fourth of July," "Jerry Maguire," and "Magnolia," Cruise took home three Golden Globe awards. The show, run by the Hollywood Foreign Press Association, encountered major defamation due to its lack of diversity and faced a series of repercussions. Immediately following NBC's report that they would not air the Globes in 2022, Cruise followed suit by bidding farewell to accolades to show the HFPA that they have some major work to do.
#8: George C. Scott
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“43rd Academy Awards” (1971) It's no secret that show business is a highly competitive industry. Award shows are an extension of that, and rightfully so; some actors rather not pay them any mind. When George C. Scott won an Academy Award for his role in "Patton," he became the very first performer to decline an Oscar. He called the ceremony a "meat parade" and believed that night it was unfair to compare performances. However, his protest didn't stop the Academy from nominating him again in 1972 for his role in "The Hospital." Luckily for Scott, he didn't need to refuse a second time as Gene Hackman won instead.
#7: Jean-Paul Sartre
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“Nobel Prize in Literature” (1964) The Nobel Peace Prize is among the most prestigious honors, but that does not mean everyone wants it. The prolific French playwright Jean-Paul Sartre famously turned down the distinction in 1964. Awarded for Literature, Sarte rejected the Swedish Academy's offer by stating via a letter that he did not want the award nor the prize money that year or anytime in the future. He also said that a writer should not “let himself be transformed into an institution” and was adamant about dismissing “official honors” throughout his career.
#6: David Bowie
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“Commander of the Order of the British Empire” (2000) The late David Bowie is one of Britain's most iconic names in music. So, it was no surprise when Queen Elizabeth chose to honor the "Space Oddity" with the title of Commander of the Order of the British Empire in 2000. However, Bowie declined the Monarch's offer as he didn't understand what it was all "for." He joined a long list of other English performers who also turned down British honors, such as John Lennon, John Cleese, and Albert Finney. In 2003, the Empire also tried to honor Bowie with a Knighthood, but he continued to stick to his morals and refused.
#5: Greta Thunberg
“Nordic Council Environment Prize” (2019) Environmental activist Greta Thunberg became the face of youth fighting against climate change in the 2010s. Protesting from a young age and now in her 20s, Thunberg gained public attention for her passion and dedication to the cause. In 2019, the Nordic Council chose to honor her with an environmental award that also included $51,000. While she appreciated it, Thunberg took to her Instagram account to "decline" it. She stated that "the climate movement does not need any more awards." She went on to write that what's really important is getting influential leaders to "listen."
#4: Sinéad O'Connor
“33rd Annual Grammy Awards” (1991) Sinéad O'Connor caused quite a stir when she declined to attend or accept her Grammy Award in 1991. The Irish singer-songwriter was nominated for four awards that year and went on to win the prize for Best Alternative Music Performance. Before the ceremony, O'Connor put pen to paper and addressed a letter to the Recording Academy, where she expressed her frustrations over their materialistic values vs. their artistic ones. She received support from fellow industry titans, including Public Enemy, who rejected their invite, and Vernon Reid, who accepted a Grammy wearing a t-shirt of O'Connor.
#3: Dolly Parton
“37th Annual Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony” (2022) In 2022, country music legend Dolly Parton was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. She joined other legends such as Pat Benatar and Eminem, but for Patron, it almost didn't happen! When she was awarded a nomination months prior, she actually turned it down. The "Jolene" singer-songwriter cited that she didn't feel like it was "earned" and was afraid of splitting the vote. Shortly after this statement, she changed her mind and thankfully accepted it. This isn't the first time Patron has rejected a distinction. She's also turned down a Presidential Medal of Freedom - twice!
#2: Julie Andrews
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“50th Tony Awards” (1996) Julie Andrews returned to the Broadway stage after a 35-year hiatus by starring in the stage adaptation of "Victor/Victoria." The musical theatre legend became the talk of the theatre scene during a matinee curtain call. Having recently been nominated for a Tony Award for Best Actress in a Musical, Andrews announced that she was taking her name out of the race. Despite her nomination, the rest of the cast and creative team were snubbed. Out of support, solidarity, and protest, Andrew's told the Tonys to "Go Fly a Kite" and stuck by her team.
#1: Marlon Brando
“45th Academy Awards” (1973) In one of the most talked about moments in Oscar history, Marlon Brando took a stance against the film industry's mistreatment of the Native American community. Nominated for his role in "The Godfather," Brando won the award for Best Actor. Instead of attending the ceremony and accepting the award himself, he sent actress Sacheen Littlefeather to decline it. Littlefeather walked onto the stage, where she explained the actor's absence and why he rejected the prize. Following her speech, she was met with boos from the crowd and even saw John Wayne being held back. Littlefeather would go on to become isolated from the industry, and it was not until 2022 that the late activist received an apology from the Academy.
