César Awards: Presenter Strips Naked In Support Of France’s Intermittent Arts Workers During Live Televised Ceremony
Fri, March 12, 2021, 4:22 PM·2 min read
French actress Corinne Masiero sent shockwaves through Paris’ Olympia concert hall during France’s César Awards ceremony this evening when she stripped off her clothes to appear entirely naked on stage. Across her breasts and torso was written, “No culture, no future.” The move was in support of artists and technicians across the country who have been impacted by work stoppages caused by the Covid crisis and the government’s response. Scrawled across her back was a message evidently destined for Prime Minister Jean Castex: “Give us back art, Jean.” (See video below, which, warning, contains full nudity.)
Masiero, who is a former César nominee for Louise Wimmer, and is also known for such films as Rust And Bone and TV series like long-running mockumentary Fait Pas Ci Fait Pas Ca and the current Capitaine Marleau, first appeared on stage in a donkey costume evoking 1970 Catherine Denueve-starrer Peau D’Ane and splashed with fake blood. Masiero then added, “I have another costume,” that was more “cinephile” and revealed a red dress à la Carrie.
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Finally, before fully removing her dress and revealing she was entirely naked underneath, she said, “I have a last costume and after that’s there’s nothing more. This one is ‘Who Wants The Skin Of Roger L’Intermittant,'” a reference to the French title of Who Framed Roger Rabbit and using the local term for France’s recurring workers in the arts. She added the statement she was making was, “Because now we are like this, completely naked.”
As ceremony host Marina Fois scrambled to gather Masiero’s clothes off the stage floor, Masiero said, “I don’t think I’ll be invited next year, we’ll see.” Broadcaster Canal Plus then cut to a montage of the Costume nominees and when Masiero reappeared, she was back in the red dress.
Here’s video of the scene:
'No culture, no future': Actress in naked lockdown protest at French Oscars
Verity Bowman
Sat, March 13, 2021
THE TELEGRAPH
French actress Corinne Masiero stands naked on stage next to French actress and Master of Ceremony Marina Fois - BERTRAND GUAY /AFP
A French actress stripped down naked on stage at the César Awards during a politically charged in protest at the months-long shutdown of cultural venues.
Corinne Masiero wore a bloodstained donkey costume before removing her clothes to reveal the words "No culture, no future" written across her front as she presented the costume award on Friday.
While most businesses have opened in France, theatres and cinemas have been closed for more than three months.
Demonstrators have demanded that the government do more to end the halt of performances and support the industry battered by the pandemic.
Several theatres were occupied on Friday in at least nine cities, while sit-ins at the Odeon Theatre on the Left Bank in Paris entered their eighth day.
Corinne Masiero speaks on stage next to Marina Fois during the 46th Cesar Film Awards Ceremony At L'Olympia In Paris on March 12, 2021 in Paris - Corbis Entertainment
Frustrations dominated Friday’s awards. In a direct appeal to French Prime Minister Jean Castex, a message on Masiero’s back read "Give us back art, Jean”.
Others joined the 57-year-old in using their time in the spotlight to appeal to the French Government.
"My children can go to Zara but not the cinema... it's incomprehensible," said Stephane Demoustier as he picked up the César for best screenplay for "The Girl With a Bracelet".
Mistress of ceremonies Marina Fois appeal directly to Culture Minister Roselyne Bachelot in her opening monologue.
"The minister hasn't done nothing... Madame Bachelot, you released a book with your recipe for pasta and gorgonzola," the actress joked.
"What we miss is what unites us, the emotions that we experience together,” she concluded.
Corinne Masiero (L) delivers a speech wearing a "Peau d'Ane" costume next to French actress and Master of Ceremony Marina Fois - Bertrand Guay /AFP
The best film award was given to comedy drama ‘Adieu Les Cons’ (Goodbye Morons). It depicts a seriously ill woman searching for her long-lost child and took home several Césars, including best director for Albert Dupontel.
Hanging heavy over the ceremony was the memory of last year's disastrous event.
Stars walked out and protestors were teargassed outside after the decision to award Polish director Roman Polanski, who is accused of multiple sexual assaults and the statutory rape of a 13-year-old girl.
The entire Cesar academy board resigned in the build-up to the 2020 ceremony due to the uproar over Polanski's nominations for his film "An Officer and a Spy".
Many saw the nominations as proof of the French industry's failure to respond to the #MeToo movement.
French actress Corinne Masiero stands naked on stage next to French actress and Master of Ceremony Marina Fois - BERTRAND GUAY /AFP
A French actress stripped down naked on stage at the César Awards during a politically charged in protest at the months-long shutdown of cultural venues.
Corinne Masiero wore a bloodstained donkey costume before removing her clothes to reveal the words "No culture, no future" written across her front as she presented the costume award on Friday.
While most businesses have opened in France, theatres and cinemas have been closed for more than three months.
Demonstrators have demanded that the government do more to end the halt of performances and support the industry battered by the pandemic.
Several theatres were occupied on Friday in at least nine cities, while sit-ins at the Odeon Theatre on the Left Bank in Paris entered their eighth day.
Corinne Masiero speaks on stage next to Marina Fois during the 46th Cesar Film Awards Ceremony At L'Olympia In Paris on March 12, 2021 in Paris - Corbis Entertainment
Frustrations dominated Friday’s awards. In a direct appeal to French Prime Minister Jean Castex, a message on Masiero’s back read "Give us back art, Jean”.
Others joined the 57-year-old in using their time in the spotlight to appeal to the French Government.
"My children can go to Zara but not the cinema... it's incomprehensible," said Stephane Demoustier as he picked up the César for best screenplay for "The Girl With a Bracelet".
Mistress of ceremonies Marina Fois appeal directly to Culture Minister Roselyne Bachelot in her opening monologue.
"The minister hasn't done nothing... Madame Bachelot, you released a book with your recipe for pasta and gorgonzola," the actress joked.
"What we miss is what unites us, the emotions that we experience together,” she concluded.
Corinne Masiero (L) delivers a speech wearing a "Peau d'Ane" costume next to French actress and Master of Ceremony Marina Fois - Bertrand Guay /AFP
The best film award was given to comedy drama ‘Adieu Les Cons’ (Goodbye Morons). It depicts a seriously ill woman searching for her long-lost child and took home several Césars, including best director for Albert Dupontel.
Hanging heavy over the ceremony was the memory of last year's disastrous event.
Stars walked out and protestors were teargassed outside after the decision to award Polish director Roman Polanski, who is accused of multiple sexual assaults and the statutory rape of a 13-year-old girl.
The entire Cesar academy board resigned in the build-up to the 2020 ceremony due to the uproar over Polanski's nominations for his film "An Officer and a Spy".
Many saw the nominations as proof of the French industry's failure to respond to the #MeToo movement.