Marlon Brando

Brando refused his Best Actor Oscar for The Godfather and sent Sacheen Littlefeather in his place to denounce Hollywood's representation of Indigenous peoples and the situation at Wounded Knee. Her appearance was met with boos and hostility.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Political responsibility

Maria Schneider stated that the butter detail in the famous simulated sexual assault scene was not in the script and had been disclosed to her at the last moment. Bernardo Bertolucci subsequently acknowledged that he and Brando had decided on this detail without warning her in order to elicit a genuine reaction.

State of the evidence

Admitted by the person

Attribution

Directly implicated

On Larry King Live, Brando stated that Hollywood was 'run by Jews' and criticised certain Jewish decision-makers for tolerating stereotypes of other groups. The remarks were denounced for repeating an antisemitic stereotype.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Directly implicated

After paparazzo Ron Galella approached him in the street, Brando punched him in the face. Galella suffered a broken jaw and several broken teeth and brought a civil action.

State of the evidence

Settlement

Attribution

Directly implicated

Brando voluntarily participated in a 'fish-in' on the Puyallup River to challenge the application of fishing rules to Indigenous peoples despite their treaty rights. He was arrested after fishing without a state licence.

Attribution

Directly implicated

On Mutiny on the Bounty, Brando acquired a reputation as a difficult star, accused of failing to observe schedules and scripts and contributing to major production delays and cost overruns.

State of the evidence

Disputed

Attribution

Directly implicated

Rita Moreno described her long relationship with Brando as passionate but destructive, marked, according to her, by numerous infidelities and an abortion she says he pressured or forced her to undergo.

Attribution

Directly implicated