Brie Larson Explains Her Reaction to Casey Affleck Winning Best Actor Award in the 2017 Oscars

Brie Larson handed "Manchester by the Sea" actor Casey Affleck the Oscar award for Best Actor, but she did not clap with the rest of the audience. Her obvious reaction caused a stir among the fans, but Larson expressed that it had something to do with the sexual harassment allegations the younger Affleck was involved in.

The 2017 Academy Awards night was full of controversy and celebration. Aside from the triumphs, the Oscars awarding was plagued with issues. "Kong: Skull Island" actress Brie Larson presented Casey Affleck the Best Actor award, but did not clap or hug the star. When asked about her reaction, Larson told Vanity Fair, "I think that whatever it was that I did onstage kind of spoke for itself."

Many speculated that Brie Larson's reaction had something to do with the sexual harassment cases filed against Casey Affleck. According to the Guardian, two women sued Affleck for sexual harassment back in 2010. The case was eventually settled outside the court, but the speculations continued, especially after "Manchester by the Sea" earned Affleck more success.

Last year, Brie Larson won a Best Actress award for her role in "Room", where her character was a sexual assault survivor. Larson is an advocate against sexual assault and harassment. She has been seen working with abuse victims and survivors. During the 2016 Oscars night, she talked to and hugged the survivors who performed the Lady Gaga song "Til It Happens to You".

Twitter was abuzz with gossip about Larson's reaction to Affleck's win. Due to the controversy, the actor reasserted that he is against abuse of any kind and that he was innocent of the allegations. He also said that there was nothing he could do about the rumors. Brie Larson did not explicitly say she believed Affleck was guilty, but she expressed that she will continue to campaign against sexual abuse and the mentality that the victim is to blame for the harassment or assault.