Academy Disqualifies Original Song Nominee

It has just been announced that the Academy have taken the decision to rescind Original Song nominee Alone Yet Not Alone following a breach of the campaign rules.

Steps were taken after it emerged nominee Bruce Broughton, former Governor and current Music Branch Executive Committee member, had emailed several Academy voters to remind them of his submission during the nomination period. This is strictly prohibited by the Academy in their attempts to curb unfair lobbying, though they remain typically diplomatic in their press release, claiming the board “determined that Broughton’s actions were inconsistent with the Academy’s promotional regulations”.

“No matter how well-intentioned the communication, using one’s position as a former governor and current executive committee member to personally promote one’s own Oscar submission creates the appearance of an unfair advantage,” said Cheryl Boone Isaacs, Academy President.

Alone Yet Not Alone is sung by Joni Eareckson Tada, a quadriplegic and evangelical minister, whose husband had to push on her diaphragm during the recording of the song so she could get through it with enough breath. It is haunting and enchanting, and actually probably deserved its place among the nominees, but the Academy will be keen to prove they enforce the rules and Mr. Broughton should have known better.

The nominee in this category will not be replaced.

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BWVyVMbSzM4?rel=0&w=640&h=360]