No #PoorLeo this year! Harvey Weinstein broke the rules by endorsing Leonardo DiCaprio for an Oscar while attending the amfAR New York Gala on Wednesday, February 10. How so? The Hollywood heavyweight is a member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences and therefore should not be biased with nominees.
The film producer, 63, gave a shout-out to DiCaprio, 41, on stage at the star-studded occasion. In fact, the former child star was also in attendance and sat next to him. (DiCaprio also dropped $95,000 for a 10-day trip to Mongolia at the charity event.)
“As an Academy member, you’re not supposed to endorse anyone up for an Academy Award, but I have to say Leo DiCaprio is so amazing in The Revenant,” Weinstein told the crowd. “His devotion and the way he rolls it all up into something beautiful is amazing. I’ve never worked with anyone who’s so wonderful and so classy.”
Weinstein’s film studio, the Weinstein Company, previously backed the actor’s 2012 gritty drama Django Unchained.
DiCaprio has been having a stellar awards season so far, racking up wins at the Golden Globes and Screen Actors Guild Awards. He’ll next go up against Matt Damon, Michael Fassbender, Bryan Cranston and Eddie Redmayne for the Oscar in the Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Leading Role category.
The 88th Academy Awards airs live from L.A.’s Dolby Theatre on Sunday, February 28.
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