REUTERS/Lucas Jackson
In his first post-award interview, Casey Affleck told The Boston Globe he is “incredibly proud” of his controversial Oscar win for Best Actor for his role in Manchester by the Sea and addressed for the first time the sexual-harassment claims that dogged him throughout awards season. “I’m pretty proud of all the things Ben’s done, and I’m incredibly proud of the fact the Academy honored me in this way.” In 2010, Affleck was hit with a lawsuit filed by two women—allegations that the actor denied. The case was eventually settled out of court. Affleck told the Globe that both sides involved in the suit are legally prohibited from discussing the case, but added, “I believe that any kind of mistreatment of anyone for any reason is unacceptable and abhorrent, and everyone deserves to be treated with respect in the workplace and anywhere else.” He added, “There’s really nothing I can do about it, other than live my life the way I know I live it and to speak to what my own values are and how I try to live by them all the time.”