Just days after the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced they will be investigating Andrea Riseborough's grassroots Oscar campaign, her To Leslie co-star Marc Maron is blasting the Academy's investigation.
Maron, 59, who plays motel owner Sweeney in To Leslie, called out the Academy on the latest episode of his WTF podcast released on Monday.
The actor and podcaster said that he thinks the Oscars decided to investigate because her campaign 'threatens' their corporate system.
Blast: Just days after the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced they will be investigating Andrea Riseborough's grassroots Oscar campaign , her To Leslie co-star Marc Maron is blasting the Academy's investigation
Performance: Maron, 59, who plays motel owner Sweeney in To Leslie, called out the Academy on the latest episode of his WTF podcast released on Monday
'Apparently, the Academy of Motion Picture Sciences or whatever the f**k it is has decided to investigate Andrea Riseborough’s grassroots campaign to get her the Oscar nomination,' Maron began.
'Because I guess it so threatens their system that they’re completely bought out by corporate interests in the form of studios,' he added.
'Millions of dollars [are] put into months and months of advertising campaigns, publicity, screenings by large corporate entertainment entities and Andrea was championed by her peers through a grassroots campaign which was pushed through by a few actors,' he added.
Academy: 'Apparently, the Academy of Motion Picture Sciences or whatever the f**k it is has decided to investigate Andrea Riseborough’s grassroots campaign to get her the Oscar nomination,' Maron began
Millions: 'Millions of dollars [are] put into months and months of advertising campaigns, publicity, screenings by large corporate entertainment entities and Andrea was championed by her peers through a grassroots campaign which was pushed through by a few actors,' he added
Riseborough and Maron's film To Leslie earned just $27K at the box office but the film and Riseborough's performance got a shout-out from Cate Blanchett at the Critics Choice Awards, with Howard Stern and Kate Winslet also praising the performance, with Gwyneth Paltrow and Charlize Theron hosting screenings of the film as well.
After details about the campaign surfaced - including an email from actress Mary McCormack, the wife of To Leslie director Michael Morris, asking celebrities to post about the film - the Academy decided to investigate whether or not the campaign has violated the Academy's rules.
'The Academy is [like], "Well, we gotta take a look at this. This is not the way it’s supposed to work. Independent artists don’t deserve the attention of the Academy unless we see how it works exactly. So, we’re going to look into this,"' Maron said.
Film: Riseborough and Maron's film To Leslie earned just $27K at the box office but the film and Riseborough's performance got a shout-out from Cate Blanchett at the Critics Choice Awards, with Howard Stern and Kate Winslet also praising the performance, with Gwyneth Paltrow and Charlize Theron hosting screenings of the film as well
Maron added that he thinks Riseborough will keep her Best Actress nomination, where she will vie for her first Oscar against Cate Blanchett (Tar), Ana de Armas (Blonde), Michelle Williams (The Fabelmans) and Michelle Yeoh (Everything Everywhere All At Once).
'Nothing is going to happen because of [an investigation]. It was in earnest, the campaign, and it is not undeserving,' Maron said.
'But I’m glad the Academy — at the behest of special interest and corporate interest and paranoia about how they look — are doing an investigation. Who gives a f**k!' he said.
Keeping the nom: Maron added that he thinks Riseborough will keep her Best Actress nomination, where she will vie for her first Oscar against Cate Blanchett (Tar), Ana de Armas (Blonde), Michelle Williams (The Fabelmans) and Michelle Yeoh (Everything Everywhere All At Once)
To Leslie is based on a true story of a West Texas woman who wins the lottery, and squanders her fortune in short order.
She reunites with her estranged 20-year-old son as she tries to rebuild her life from the ground up.
The film also stars Allison Janney, Stephen Root, James Landry Hebert, Andre Royo and Owen Teague.
Story: To Leslie is based on a true story of a West Texas woman who wins the lottery, and squanders her fortune in short order
