Many artists dream of winning a prestigious award for their work–or even a nomination– since their first day on the set of a movie or TV show or setting foot in a recording studio.
However, those who managed to make a name for themselves in the entertainment industry sometimes have a different concept of what these forms of recognition represent.
Some are just unwilling to accept an award from an institution they deem corrupt, while others believe artists shouldn't be pitted against each other or have their talent measured in the form of a statuette.
Oh, and others are simply too humble to think they’re worthy of such honors.
Bored Panda presents 14 moments where celebrities declined prestigious awards and honors.
#1 Dolly Parton
In 2022, the country music legend declined an invitation to be included in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. “Even though I am extremely flattered and grateful to be nominated for the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, I don't feel that I have earned that right,” Dolly tweeted.
“I really do not want votes to be split because of me, so I must respectfully bow out. I do hope that the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame will understand and be willing to consider me again — if I'm ever worthy.
“This has, however, inspired me to put out a hopefully great rock 'n' roll album at some point in the future, which I have always wanted to do!”
The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame wasn’t going to let Dolly get away with her humble words, so they confirmed that she would remain a nominee, citing that rock and roll has had deep roots in country music since its inception and that the Jolene singer “impacted a generation of young fans and influenced countless artists.”
Dolly has also turned down the Presidential Medal of Freedom twice during the Trump administration, saying, “I feel like if I take it, I'll be doing politics, so I'm not sure.”
Image credits: Dolly Parton
#2 David Bowie
In 2000, Queen Elizabeth II wanted to honor the English singer with the title of Commander of the Order of the British Empire. He said no.
The Queen was a hardcore fan of Bowie’s music, so she asked again in 2003 with a sweeter deal: a knighthood. David refused again.
Royal titles didn’t appeal much to him. In fact, he was clueless as to what purpose they serve.
“I would never have any intention of accepting anything like that. I seriously don't know what it's for. It's not what I spent my life working for,” the rockstar explained when asked about Mick Jagger being given his knighthood.
“It's not my place to make a judgment on Jagger; it's his decision. But it's just not for me.”
Image credits: David Bowie
#3 Nick Cave
The Aussie musician turned down the MTV Video Music Award when they nominated him for Best Male Artist, citing his refusal to participate in an event that pitted musicians against each other.
He asked for the nomination to be withdrawn and given to somebody who felt "more comfortable with the competitive nature of these awards ceremonies."
In a letter he sent to MTV, the rock singer wrote: “I have always been of the opinion that my music is unique and individual and exists beyond the realms inhabited by those who would reduce things to mere measuring. I am in competition with no one.”
“My relationship with my muse is a delicate one at the best of times, and I feel that it is my duty to protect her from influences that may offend her fragile nature.”
He continued: “My muse is not a horse, and I am in no horse race, and if indeed she was, still, I would not harness her to this tumbrel.”
Image credits: Nick Cave
#4 Sinéad O'connor
Sinéad wrote a letter to the National Academy of Recording Arts & Sciences after she was nominated for four Grammy Awards in 1991, stating her intentions not to accept any potential award she might receive during the ceremony.
“As artists I believe our function is to express the feelings of the human race — to always speak the truth and never keep it hidden,” the Irish singer wrote.
In contrast, the music industry possesses "false and destructive materialistic values," "acknowledge[s] mostly the commercial side of art," and "respect[s] mostly material gain, since that is the main reason for their existence."
Award shows “honor” artists when they achieve commercial success and “ignore” them when they don’t, Sinéad wrote.
Despite her criticism of the music industry, Sinéad still won Best Alternative Music Performance for I Do Not Want What I Haven't Got, and she is listed as the winner on the official Grammys website.
Image credits: Sinéad O'Connor
#5 Julie Andrews
The talented actress turned down a 1996 Tony nomination for her starring performance in Victor/Victoria to protest the snubbing of the rest of the show's creative team.
Julie addressed what she felt was an unfair situation during a curtain call, saying, "I have searched my conscience and my heart and find that I cannot accept this nomination, and prefer instead to stand with the egregiously overlooked."
Despite her comments, the Sound of Music star was still included on the ballot for Best Actress in a Musical and is listed as a nominee on the Tony Awards website.
Donna Murphy ultimately won for her performance in The King and I.
Image credits: Buena Vista Pictures Distribution
#6 George C. Scott
George “disagreed, on principle, with a competition that pitted actors against each other,” which is why he became the first actor to decline an Academy Award in 1971 when he turned down an accolade for his role as General George S. Patton in Patton.
The actor described the ceremony as "a two-hour meat parade, a public display with contrived suspense for economic reasons."
George had warned months in advance that he wouldn't accept the award. Consequently, many read the Academy’s decision to give it to him as an attempt to legitimize the awards and make the public respect them more.
"They took the Oscar to George C. Scott as an opportunity to say, ‘Well, no one buys these awards, sometimes, people don’t even want them; we’ll give it to George C. Scott because we just simply thought he was the best,'" Film Studies academic Dennis Bingham said.
Image credits: CBS
#7 John Lennon
The English musician accepted, along with his bandmates, an MBE (Member of the Order of the British Empire) medal, but he returned it in 1969 “in protest against Britain’s involvement in the Nigeria-Biafra thing, against our support of America in Vietnam, and against ‘Cold Turkey’ slipping down the charts.”
The “Nigeria-Biafra thing” he mentioned in the letters he sent to Queen Elizabeth, the Prime Minister, and Central Chancery refers to the Nigerian Civil War.
Meanwhile, “Cold Turkey” is a song that John wrote in 1969, released as a single by the Plastic Ono Band, the group he formed with his wife, Yoko Ono.
Later on, the singer-songwriter explained why he had initially accepted the honor.
"Before you get an MBE, the Palace writes to you to ask if you’re going to accept it because you’re not supposed to reject it publicly, and they sound you out first.
“I chucked the letter in with all the fan-mail, until Brian [Epstein, the Beatles’ manager] asked me if I had it. He and a few other people persuaded me that it was in our interests to take it, and it was hypocritical of me to accept it.”
Image credits: The Tomorrow Show
#8 Bansky
Banky’s documentary “Exit Through the Gift Shop” was one of the five pictures nominated for an Oscar in the Best Documentary category in 2011.
While the mysterious artist didn’t actually win, he refused to attend the ceremony.
As it turns out, the Academy didn’t want him to show up wearing a disguise, like the monkey mask he’s rumored to wear in public to conceal his identity.
“The fun but disquieting scenario is that if the film wins and five guys in monkey masks come to the stage all saying, ‘I’m Banksy,’ who the hell do we give it to?” the Academy’s executive director, Bruce Davis, said, as per ET.
Image credits: Bansky
#9 Eminem
In 2003, the rapper didn’t attend the 2003 Academy Awards despite being nominated in the Best Original Song category for “Lose Yourself” from his movie “8 Mile."
In fact, he didn’t even watch the ceremony, and fell asleep at home when his name was announced.
"Back then, I never even thought that I had a chance to win, and we had just performed 'Lose Yourself' on the Grammys with the Roots a couple of weeks before the Oscars, so we didn’t think it was a good idea.
“And also, back at that time, the younger me didn't really feel like a show like that would understand me," the musician told Variety.
Image credits: Eminem
#10 Marlon Brando
From playing Stanley Kowalski in A Streetcar Named Desire to portraying Terry Malloy in On the Waterfront, Marlon Brando had already gained worldwide recognition before becoming The Godfather in 1972. Still, it was the film adaptation of Mario Puzzo’s crime novel that earned him the most critically acclaimed performance of his career and the Best Actor Oscar he turned down.
Marlon wasn’t there to refuse the award himself and sent a Native American actress and activist named Sacheen Littlefeather to do it in his place.
According to Sacheen, the Hollywood star decided to decline the "very generous award" because of the "treatment of American Indians today by the film industry."
The woman, who sparked divided opinions, ranging from loud boos to applause, said of her speech: “I didn’t use my fist. I didn’t use swear words. I didn’t raise my voice. But I prayed that my ancestors would help me.
“I went up there like a warrior woman. I went up there with the grace and the beauty and the courage and the humility of my people. I spoke from my heart.”
Image credits: Academy Awards
#11 Tom Cruise
In 2021, the Top Gun actor returned all three of the Golden Globes he'd been awarded throughout his career to protest against the Hollywood Foreign Press Association.
Tom won Golden Globes for his performances in Born on the Fourth of July (1989), Jerry Maguire (1996), and Magnolia (1999).
His decision came amid renewed criticism of the HFPA's "utter lack of diversity" among its membership, according to Entertainment Weekly.
NBC decided not to air the 2022 ceremony, citing in a statement that the HFPA needed more time to enact "meaningful reform."
Image credits: Paramount Pictures
#12 Elizabeth Taylor
At the time, Elizabeth was married to Richard Burton, who had often been snubbed by the Academy. Attending the 1966 award show would’ve exposed her husband to a fifth loss.
Despite both of them being nominated, Richard booked a couples trip to Paris and convinced Elizabeth to ditch the ceremony and join him.
Ultimately, the actress didn’t accept her Oscar for her role in "Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?"
Image credits: CBS
#13 Drake
Drake’s album Certified Lover Boy was up for Best Rap Album at the 2022 Grammys, and he was nominated for Best Rap Performance for "Way 2 Sexy."
The Canadian rapper decided to withdraw both nominations.
While the motive remains unclear, the Hotline Bling rapper told Variety he had a “long and at times contentious relationship” with the awards.
A statement he wrote in 2020 following The Weekend’s snub may shed light on his decision, though.
“I think we should stop allowing ourselves to be shocked every year by the disconnect between impactful music and these awards,” he shared.
Furthermore, he stated that people “just accept that what once was the highest form of recognition may no longer matter to the artists that exist now.”
Image credits: Drake
#14 Woody Allen
"I have no regard for that kind of ceremony. I just don't think they know what they're doing,” the actor and filmmaker once said of the Academy Awards.
He was nominated a total of 24 times, and accepted none of his wins.
Woody only attended the show once, after the September 11th attacks. On that occasion, he took the stage to introduce a group of films that had been made in his home state, New York.
“When you see who wins those things — or who doesn't win them — you can see how meaningless this Oscar thing is…,” the director further said.
“I know it sounds terrible, but winning that Oscar for 'Annie Hall' didn't mean anything to me.”
Image credits: United Artists
