Jennifer Lawrence and Jodie Foster replace Casey Affleck at the Oscars amidst #MeToo backlash

The #MeToo and Time's Up movement against sexual harassment are likely to be a major talking point at this Sunday's Oscar ceremony.

This year's awards season has already seen powerful speeches and protests about gender inequality at the Golden Globes, SAG Awards and Baftas.

It is not known what those attending the Oscars have planned, but expect to see large numbers of people stick to the ongoing tradition of wearing black outfits in solidarity with the movement.

One tradition that will be broken at this year's ceremony will be who presents the Best Actor and Actress award.

Usually, these are presented by the winner of the previous year's award from the opposite gender – i.e. the Best Actor winner would present the award for the Best Actress.

However, last year's Best Actor recipient, Casey Affleck for Manchester By The Sea has withdrawn from the event after reports of two instances of sexual misconduct from the 2010 movie I'm Still Here were made against him in January.

Variety are reporting that replacing Affleck as Best Actress presenter will be both Jennifer Lawrence and Jodie Foster, both previous winners of the award, for roles in Silence of the Lambs, The Accused and Silver Linings Playbook respectively.

Affleck is said to have made this decision himself as to avoid distraction about the claims made against him, but the move by the Academy to replace him with Foster and Lawrence has been widely welcomed on Twitter.

Emma Stone, who won last year's Best Actress award for her role in La La Land,will not be presenting the Best Actor award, with Helen Mirren and Jane Fonda assuming the role for Sunday's event.

It has not been disclosed why Stone will not be presenting the award.

Frances McDormand (Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri) and Gary Oldman (Darkest Hour) are the strong favourites in the respective categories.

Variety report that The Academy did not respond when approached for a comment on the subject.

HT Variety

More: This picture of Jennifer Lawrence and her male co-stars is shocking people

More: The disgusting thing that's happening to women reporting sexual abuse in Japan