entertainment

Cate Blanchett's nightmare dilemma at the Oscars today.

 

 

 

 

 

If Cate Blanchett wins the Academy Award for Best Actress today for her breathtaking performance in Blue Jasmine, will she thank Woody Allen? Should she thank Woody Allen? Could she refuse the award altogether on moral grounds? Or can she find a way to accept the award without mentioning her director at all?

When Cate‘s (hopefully) called to the stage in her no-doubt flawless gown, she’ll hug presenter Jennifer Lawrence and stand at the podium, possibly tearful but probably composed (because Cate) and deliver the most highly anticipated and utterly fraught acceptance speech in history.

The whole world will be watching, breathlessly, waiting to see if she acknowledges Woody Allen or not.

In that victorious moment, will Cate think about Dylan Farrow? Will Dylan’s allegations of sexual assault against Woody Allen enter her head?

Remember that when Dylan wrote the words “For so long, Woody Allen’s acceptance silenced me. It felt like a personal rebuke, like the awards and accolades were a way to tell me to shut up and go away,” She added: “What if it had been your child, Cate Blanchett?”

In that one personal appeal, Cate Blanchett was pulled into the fray of Woody Allen’s scandal. Journalists and famous people around the world have got some strong suggestions for what Cate should do.

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Here are her options.

1. Leave Woody Allen out of her speech.

Daniel D’Addario from Salon says the omission would prove that “working with someone against whom allegations have existed for decades … because it helps one’s career … is problematic.”

2. Refuse the award altogether. 

Chloe Angyal from Thought Catalog thinks Cate should turn down the award in protest. “How would you sleep at night?” she said, adding that Cate should say: “I am honoured to be recognized for my performance … but I broke the Don’t Work With Probable Child Rapists rule, and for that, I should not be lauded.”

3. Thank Woody Allen like normal. 

Vulture editor Kyle Buchanan says she’ll get slammed if she doesn’t thank the director of her film:  “I don’t think you’ll find a voting body more sympathetic to Woody Allen than the Academy . It’s made up of people who’ve worked with him. Every actor in the Academy has either worked with Woody Allen, or wants to.”

We want to know what you think. What should Cate Blanchett do?

Mention Woody or not?