Casey Affleck Speaks Out About Sexual Harassment Allegations Following 2017 Oscars Win

Casey Affleck is aware that not everyone was excited about his 2017 Oscars win.

On Sunday night, Hollywood applauded the actor’s performance in Manchester by the Sea. At the same time, some viewers couldn’t help but express their disappointment at the Best Actor win.

“Can we check Best Actor again,” actor B.J. Novak tweeted during the show. Constance Wu added, “Boys! BUY ur way out of trouble by settling out of court! Just do a good acting job, thats all that matters! bc Art isn’t about humanity, right?”

In a new interview with the Boston Globe Tuesday, Casey decided to speak out about the sentiments.

“I believe that any kind of mistreatment of anyone for any reason is unacceptable and abhorrent, and everyone deserves to be treated with respect in the workplace and anywhere else,” he shared with the publication. “There’s really nothing I can do about it. Other than live my life the way I know I live it and to speak to what my own values are and how I try to live by them all the time.”

In the weeks leading up to Sunday’s award show, several articles brought up claims of sexual harassment stemming from a 2010 lawsuit filed by two women who worked with Casey on the film I’m Still Here.

The suit was ultimately settled out of court and Casey has continuously denied the allegations. Casey’s team even called the lawsuits “preposterous and without merit.”

During his Boston Globe interview, Casey also said both sides in the case are prohibited from commenting on the matter, and none of the people who are condemning him online know what happened.

Ultimately, Casey chose to focus on nothing but positive things Sunday evening during his acceptance speech.

“I wish I had something bigger and more meaningful to say, but I’m just really proud to be a part of this community and I look out at all of you and I have this whole year,” he shared inside the Dolby Theatre. “I’m just dumb founded that I’m included. And it means a lot to me.”

Casey concluded, “Of course, my mother and my father for mostly, usually believing in me in doing this. And Ben Affleck, I love you. You ain’t heavy. Thank you all very much.”