Michelle Yeoh became the first Asian to win the Best Actress award at the 95th Academy Awards held on March 12 (local time) at the Dolby Theater in Los Angeles.
Michelle Yeoh, who came to the stage to lift the Best Actress trophy after her name was called out, said:For all the little boys and girls who look like me watching tonight, this is a beacon of hope and opportunity. This is proof that dreams are big and dreams come true. Dear ladies, let no one tell you that the age of splendor is over. Never give up.“
The scene was covered by terrestrial broadcasters MBC, KBS, SBS and wide channels. However, only “SBS Eight O’Clock News” removed the voice from the part where Michelle Yeoh mentioned “Lords” and showed a paraphrased subtitle that read: “Don’t let anyone tell you that you’ve ever passed your best age“.
Netizens commented:I can’t believe you cut off the most important word in her speech“, “What is the reason for removing the word “sir”??”, “You need to ask Michelle Yeoh if it fits her intentions“…
SBS News then explained to Newsen: “We thought the phrase “Don’t let anyone tell you that the glory days are over” doesn’t just apply to women, so we removed that word.“
However, the controversy persisted as the statement could be seen as an admission that SBS News did not cover Michelle Yeoh’s acceptance speech as it stands, but interpreted and edited it themselves.
Michelle Yeoh is an actress who has always been interested in and speaking out about women’s rights. Therefore, it seems clear that she intended to indicate “ladies” in her speech at the global awards ceremony. She recently published an article in the New York Times titled “The Crisis That Changed My Life 8 Years Ago Keeps Happening” in which she pointed out that women’s advancement in every field, including local community, domestic politics, and international politics, needs to be revitalized.
In 2012, she played Aung San Suu Kyi, a Burmese housewife turned activist, in the film “The Lady” (dir. by famous French director Luc Besson). At the time, she referred to Aung San Suu Kyi as “an icon and activist representing that era“.
Meanwhile, Everything Everywhere All at Once, which won Michelle Yeoh for Best Actress, tells the story that follows when Evelyn (Michelle Yeoh), a Chinese immigrant laundromat, realizes she is destined to save her family and the world under an IRS scrutiny. This film won a total of 7 Academy Awards including Best Actress, Best Picture, Best Director…
Source: Wikitree
