Oscars 2018: Basketball star Kobe Bryant win sparks controversy in wake of MeToo movement: 'Time's Up but not for Kobe'
The retired NBA star was accused of rape in 2003
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Your support makes all the difference.The Academy's decision to award Kobe Bryant an Oscar for his producing duties on animated short film Dear Basketball has sparked controversy in the wake of the #MeToo movement.
Retired NBA star Bryant found himself at the centre of a petition to have his nomination revoked following an accusation of rape which boasted over 16,000 signatures.
The petition indicates the 2003 sexual assault case against Bryant following the accusation that he raped a hotel employee in Colorado. The criminal charges were later dropped as the accuser decided against testifying. A civil suit went on to be settled out of court.
Bryant's win will no doubt anger many during its placement in a ceremony which has seen host Jimmy Kimmel target Harvey Weinstein while honouring the #MeToo and Time's Up movements.
Below are some tweets from people none too impressed with Bryant's recognition.
The 90th Academy Awards earlier saw Jordan Peele become the first black screenwriter to win Best Original Screenplay for horror satire Get Out.
Jimmy Kimmel hosted the ceremony kicking things off with a rather safe opening monologue which poked fun at Harvey Weinstein and Mike Pence.
Ahead of The Shape of Water filmmaker Guillermo del Toro's acceptance speech for Best Director, category presenter Emma Stone repeated Natalie Portman's killer Golden Globes jab by highlighting the fact that four nominees were male while just one was female (Lady Bird filmmaker Greta Gerwig).
You can find a full list of all 24 winners here.
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