You Better Believe Asghar Farhadi's Oscar Speech Was All About Trump
The Oscar winner was banned from entering the country, and he has some thoughts.

Asghar Farhadi's The Salesman won the award for Best Foreign Language Film (which, yay!), but the Iranian director opted not to accept the prize—citing Donald Trump's immigrant ban as the reason.
Statement from Iranian director Asghar Farhadi, Oscar winner protesting Trump's “inhumane” immigration travel banpic.twitter.com/IseeoUrtvwFebruary 27, 2017
Iranian-American engineer Anousheh Ansari accepted the award on Farhadi's behalf, and read out the following speech from him.
"I'm sorry I'm not with you tonight. My absence is out of my respect for the people of my country, and those of the other six nations who have been disrespected by the inhumane law that bans entry of immigrants to the US. Dividing the world into the 'us' and 'our enemies' categories creates fear. A deceitful justification for aggression and war. These wars prevent democracy and human rights in countries which have themselves been victims of aggression. Filmmakers can turn their cameras to capture shared human qualities, and break stereotypes of various nationalities and religions. They create empathy between us and others. An empathy we need today more than ever."
Farhadi previously told the The New York Times that he wouldn't be attending the Oscars, saying, "The possibility of [my presence at the ceremony] is being accompanied by ifs and buts which are in no way acceptable to me. Even if exceptions were to be made for my trip."
Fair enough.
Follow Marie Claire on Facebook for the latest celeb news, beauty tips, fascinating reads, livestream video, and more.
Stay In The Know
Get exclusive access to fashion and beauty trends, hot-off-the-press celebrity news, and more.
Mehera Bonner is a celebrity and entertainment news writer who enjoys Bravo and Antiques Roadshow with equal enthusiasm. She was previously entertainment editor at Marie Claire and has covered pop culture for over a decade.
-
King Charles Offers 101-Year-Old Man Some Hilarious Advice For Staying Young
It's worth a shot.
-
Last Night in L.A.: Women on the Frontlines of the Immigration Protests
'Marie Claire' sent photojournalist Allison Lau to capture the women driving the fight against the Trump administration’s deportation raids.
-
Victoria Beckham Continues Exuding Rich-Mom Energy
Even when she's wearing jeans.
-
Natasha Lyonne Wants Entertainment to Embrace the Unknown
She opened up about her boundary-breaking new projects onstage at Power Play.
-
'Anora' Star Mikey Madison Takes Home the Best Actress Award at the 2025 Oscars in a Surprise Win
"I will continue to support and be an ally."
-
Zoe Saldaña Becomes the First American of Dominican Origin to Win an Oscar
"I am the first American of Dominican origin to accept an Academy Award and I know I will not be the last."
-
LISA, Doja Cat, and Raye Perform a Glamorous 'James Bond' Tribute at the 2025 Oscars
The Academy Awards are for the pop girls, actually.
-
Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo Open the 2025 Oscars With a Showstopping 'Wicked' Performance
The awards show began with a medley of songs inspired by the Best Picture-nominated film and adaptations of 'The Wizard of Oz.'
-
Everything to Know About the 2025 Oscars, From How to Watch to the Nominations
It's bound to be an unpredictable awards show.
-
Thanks to Female Filmmakers, Hollywood Is Having Conversations—and Making Great Art—About the Complexities of Women Aging
'The Last Showgirl' writer and the directors of 'The Substance' and 'Nightbitch' open up about creating nuanced stories about women over 40.
-
Meet 'Selling the City' Star Jordyn Taylor Braff: What to Know About Her Career Trajectory and Dating History
She even had a surprising career path before joining Douglas Elliman.