Casey Affleck has withdrawn from presenting the Best Actress award at this year’s Academy Awards, Deadline reported Thursday. Affleck notified the Academy that he will not attend, reportedly because he “did not want to become a distraction from the focus that should be on the performances of the actresses in the category.” Per Oscars tradition, the previous year’s Best Actor winner presents the award for Best Actress. Affleck won the Best Actor trophy last year for his performance in Manchester by the Sea, while also facing intense scrutiny for two sexual-harassment lawsuits filed against him in 2010.
