Common perception following the Oscars was that Brie Larson made a strong statement without saying a word by not clapping for Casey Affleck upon his win for Manchester By The Sea. Now, in an interview with Vanity Fair, she essentially says that the interpretation of her actions—or lack thereof—was accurate. “I think that whatever it was that I did onstage kind of spoke for itself,” she said. She declined to discuss the matter further, adding: “I’ve said all that I need to say about that topic.” It’s not exactly an explicit explanation of her motivations, but her comments combined with her stance as an activist should tell you all you need to know.
Larson, who has worked with sexual abuse survivors, was tasked with handing the statuette to Affleck, who has been accused of sexual harassment, thanks to the Academy’s tradition of having last year’s Best Actress present the Best Actor category. Screenshots from the ceremony caught her looking displeased as she read his name. For his part, Affleck has denied the allegations from two women who worked on his film I’m Still Here. The lawsuits were settled out of court.