First Trans Performer Ever Be Nominated For An Oscar Has Decided Not To Attend

Anohni, formerly known as Antony and the Johnsons’ Antony Hegarty,made a little bit of history last month when she became the first trans performer ever to be nominated for an Oscar. However, Anohni has decided not to attend the ceremony, even though she may win for Best Original Song, for Manta Ray from Racing Extinction.

It appears the decision stems both from the fact she wasn’t invited to perform the song during the ceremony (despite Sam Smith, Lady Gaga and The Weeknd being invited to do so), as well as the industry and the Academy’s treatment of identity politics.

In an open letter on the Antony and the Johnsons website, Anohni writes, ‘It was degrading to watch the articles in Variety, The Daily Telegraph, Pitchfork, Stereogum, etc. start to appear. Eclipsing earlier notices of congratulations, now the papers were naming me as one of two artists to have been “cut” by the Academy due to “time constraints”. In the next sentence it was announced that Dave Grohl, not nominated in any category, had been added to the list of performers.

‘Everyone told me that I still ought to attend, that a walk down the red carpet would still be “good for my career”.

‘Last night I tried to force myself to get on the plane to fly to LA for all the nominee events, but the feelings of embarrassment and anger knocked me back, and I couldn’t get on the plane. I imagined how it would feel for me to sit amongst all those Hollywood stars, some of the brave ones approaching me with sad faces and condolences. There I was, feeling a sting of shame that reminded me of America’s earliest affirmations of my inadequacy as a transperson. I turned around at the airport and went back home.

‘As if to rub salt into the wound, the next morning the Oscars added that I was transgendered to the trivia page of their website.

‘I want to be clear — I know that I wasn’t excluded from the performance directly because I am transgendered. I was not invited to perform because I am relatively unknown in the U.S., singing a song about ecocide, and that might not sell advertising space. It is not me that is picking the performers for the night, and I know that I don’t have an automatic right to be asked.

‘But if you trace the trail of breadcrumbs, the deeper truth of it is impossible to ignore. Like global warming, it is not one isolated event, but a series of events that occur over years to create a system that has sought to undermine me, at first as a feminine child, and later as an androgynous transwoman. It is a system of social oppression and diminished opportunities for transpeople that has been employed by capitalism in the US to crush our dreams and our collective spirit.’

She adds, ‘So I have decided not to attend the Academy Awards this election year. I will not be lulled into submission with a few more well manufactured, feel-good ballads and a bit of good old fashioned T. and A. They are going to try to convince us that they have our best interests at heart by waving flags for identity politics and fake moral issues. But don’t forget that many of these celebrities are the trophies of billionaire corporations whose only intention it is to manipulate you into giving them your consent and the last of your money. They have been paid to do a little tap dance to occupy you while Rome burns. These are the last days of a great American fake-out sponsored by Exxon Mobile, Walmart, Amazon, Google and Phillip Morris. America, a country that is no longer contained by physical borders, aspires only for more power and control. I want to maximize my usefulness and advocate for the preservation of biodiversity and the pursuit of human decency within my sphere of influence.’

It should be noted Anohni isn’t quite the first trans person ever nominated, as in the 1970s Angela Morley was nominated in the Best Music categories for The Slipper And The Rose and The Little Prince. Anohni is however the first performer to be nominated.