A contender for this year’s best song Oscar has had its nomination revoked after it emerged that its composer, an ex-Academy governor, contacted voters.
Bruce Broughton is accused of using his position to promote the title song from Alone Yet Not Alone, an independent film with a Christian message. The Academy said his emails, though “well intentioned”, had created “the appearance of an unfair advantage”. In a statement, Broughton said he was “devastated” by the Academy’s decision. “I indulged in the simplest grass roots campaign and it went against me when the song started getting attention,” he continued. “I got taken down by competition that had months of promotion and advertising behind them. I simply asked people to find the song and consider it.” In its own statement, the Academy said Broughton’s actions were “inconsistent with the Academy’s promotional regulations”. The ousted track will not be replaced by another contender, leaving four compositions to compete for this year’s award for best original song. Many were surprised when Alone Yet Not Alone was nominated on 16 January alongside songs by such established acts as U2, Karen O and Pharrell Williams. Composed by Broughton and lyricist Dennis Spiegel, the song is performed by Joni Eareckson Tada, a 64-year-old quadriplegic and evangelical minister with little professional experience. Concerns were soon raised over how a little-known composition from a relatively obscure film had beaten songs by the likes of Lana Del Rey and Taylor Swift. The movie – a period drama about two sisters captured by American Indians in 18th Century Ohio – has also prompted criticism for its
depiction of native Americans. Broughton, who was previously Oscar-nominated for his score for 1985 western Silverado, is a member of the Academy’s music branch executive committee.
It is not unprecedented for nominations to be rescinded. In 1973, Nino Rota’s score for The Godfather was disqualified after it was deemed that he had reused music from one of his earlier scores. The 2014 Academy Awards will be held on 2 March at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles. – BBC Entertainment
