When accepting hisScreen Actors Guild (SAG) award on Sunday, Morgan Freeman chose to dedicate his acceptance speech to a very important point – about gender.
The actor, who was presented with the award by friend and previous winner Rita Moreno, said this about the trophies:
I wasn’t going to do this; I’m going to tell you what’s wrong with this statue.
It works from the back, but from the front, it’s gender specific.
Maybe I started something.
Here’s the SAG trophy, for reference:
Picture: Vince Bucci/Getty Images
The statuette, called ‘The Actor’ depicts a man holding a mask of comedy and a mask of tragedy.
"Maybe I started something," Morgan said...
...and some people online seem to agree that he did.
Thank you #MorganFreeman for "starting something" #Maestro 👏🏻👏🏿👏🏾👏🏼 #SAGAwards #KM😈 https://t.co/lWtXfKZI9M— Fernanda Kelly (@Fernanda Kelly) 1516597422
Ohhhh watch out!! Not to be undone, #MorganFreeman calls out @sagawards “actor” trophy, stating “from the back it w… https://t.co/N4EhZkSXTt— 🟣Lizza Monét Morales #LovebugNation #Clubhouse (@🟣Lizza Monét Morales #LovebugNation #Clubhouse) 1516587471
When Morgan Freeman is out here dropping knowledge bombs that even award show statues are sexist #SAGAwards https://t.co/Cqxpv5RU7R— Xavier Harding (@Xavier Harding) 1516588123
Others pointed out an example of the statue's gender problem was raised when Helen Mirren accepted the award:
MORGAN FREEMAN: "I'm going to tell you what's wrong with this statue, from the back it works but the front is gende… https://t.co/QRjBVyfM8T— FLARE (@FLARE) 1516587803
Inspired by the #MeToo movement, the SAG award show had a female-only line-up this year and picked Kristen Bell as its first ever host.
Freeman's comments follow droves of allegations and accounts from women about sexism and sexual misconduct in Hollywood.
Thousands of women across America came together at the weekend to march for women’s rights, with notable actors Scarlett Johansson and Natalie Portman giving speeches against sexual harassment and abuse.