To Leslie star Andrea Riseborough garnering an Oscar nomination came as a surprise for many, and the announcement has also come with some controversy. The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has since announced that they’re conducting an internal review of the grassroots campaign that had resulted in Riseborough scoring the nomination, and it’s possible that the honor could be rescinded based on what the Academy decides. Specifically, the Academy stated that they were investigating to see if the campaign violated any guidelines, thus interfering with their goal of conducting the Oscars in a “fair and ethical manner.”
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Marc Maron, one of Riseborough’s co-stars in To Leslie, is now speaking out against the Academy for taking this position. On his WTF podcast (via Deadline), Maron condemned the review of Riseborough’s nomination, arguing that the grassroots campaign was completely valid. He also suggests that the Academy has an ulterior motive for making the announcement.
Maron then went on to point out how the Academy doesn’t take issue with multi-million dollar campaigns backed by corporate entities with Oscar nomination campaigns, making it ridiculous to put a grassroots campaign under such scrutiny.
To Leslie Has Drawn Widespread Acclaim
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Though there has been some controversy attached, many would say that Riseborough’s nomination is deserved. In To Leslie, Riseborough plays a single mother who blows through lottery prize money on drugs and alcohol, putting her into a very bad spot until she gets a chance to turn over a new leaf with a job at a motel. The movie has scored a near-perfect rating of 97% at Rotten Tomatoes with Riseborough’s performance in particular drawing great praise from critics.
As of now, Riseborough’s Oscar nomination hasn’t been rescinded. The ceremony is scheduled to occur on March 12, 2023.
