Fernanda Torres, who is nominated for the best actress Oscar this year, has apologised for wearing blackface in a resurfaced sketch. The actor, 59, is among the stars up for the prestigious award for her performance in Brazillian drama I’m Still Here.
Image Credit: Metro [**VIDEO GRABS - MUST EMBED** 14328301 Academy Award nominee Fernanda Torres apologizes for wearing blackface in years-old resurfaced comedy sketch - After scoring a Best Actress Oscar nomination after winning the Golden Globe for Best Performance By An Actress in a Film Drama for her portrayal of a mother searching for her disappeared politician husband in I?m Still Here, Fernanda Torres tonight is making an apology for a decades-old skit on the Brazilian TV show Fantastico that is beginning to resurface. She played multiple characters in the skit, one of them in blackface. ?Almost twenty years ago, I appeared in blackface in a comedy sketch from a Brazilian TV show,? Torres said in a statement. ?I am very sorry for this. I?m making this statement as it is important for me to address this swiftly to avoid further pain and confusion.]
In it, Torres stars as Eunice Paiva, a mother and activist coping with the forced disappearance of her husband during the military dictatorship of Brazil. Following the nominations, a clip from almost 20 years ago resurfaced which showed Torres performing in blackface.
Image Credit: Metro [**VIDEO GRABS - MUST EMBED** 14328301 Academy Award nominee Fernanda Torres apologizes for wearing blackface in years-old resurfaced comedy sketch - After scoring a Best Actress Oscar nomination after winning the Golden Globe for Best Performance By An Actress in a Film Drama for her portrayal of a mother searching for her disappeared politician husband in I?m Still Here, Fernanda Torres tonight is making an apology for a decades-old skit on the Brazilian TV show Fantastico that is beginning to resurface. She played multiple characters in the skit, one of them in blackface. ?Almost twenty years ago, I appeared in blackface in a comedy sketch from a Brazilian TV show,? Torres said in a statement. ?I am very sorry for this. I?m making this statement as it is important for me to address this swiftly to avoid further pain and confusion.]
The segment featured on Brazillian TV show Fantástico 17 years prior, and showed Torres performining as multiple characters including a housekeeper which she played in blackface. Following an outraged response from fans, Torres released a statement saying she is ‘very sorry’ for the offensive action.
Image Credit: Metro [Film Independent Presents Special Screening Of "I'm Still Here"]
‘Almost twenty years ago, I appeared in blackface in a comedy sketch from a Brazilian TV show,’ Torres said in a statement to Deadline. ‘I am very sorry for this. I’m making this statement as it is important for me to address this swiftly to avoid further pain and confusion.
Image Credit: Metro [This image released by Sony Pictures Classics shows Fernanda Torres in a scene from "I'm Still Here." (Sony Pictures Classics via AP)]
‘At that time, despite the efforts of Black movements and organizations, the awareness of the racist history and symbolism of blackface hadn’t yet entered the mainstream public consciousness in Brazil. ‘Thanks to better cultural understanding and important but incomplete achievements in this century, it’s very clear now in our country and everywhere that blackface is never acceptable.
Image Credit: Metro [82nd Annual Golden Globe Awards - Arrivals]
![[**VIDEO GRABS - MUST EMBED** 14328301 Academy Award nominee Fernanda Torres apologizes for wearing blackface in years-old resurfaced comedy sketch - After scoring a Best Actress Oscar nomination after winning the Golden Globe for Best Performance By An Actress in a Film Drama for her portrayal of a mother searching for her disappeared politician husband in I?m Still Here, Fernanda Torres tonight is making an apology for a decades-old skit on the Brazilian TV show Fantastico that is beginning to resurface. She played multiple characters in the skit, one of them in blackface. ?Almost twenty years ago, I appeared in blackface in a comedy sketch from a Brazilian TV show,? Torres said in a statement. ?I am very sorry for this. I?m making this statement as it is important for me to address this swiftly to avoid further pain and confusion.]](https://metro.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/SEI_237516669-3414.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&w=638)
![[**VIDEO GRABS - MUST EMBED** 14328301 Academy Award nominee Fernanda Torres apologizes for wearing blackface in years-old resurfaced comedy sketch - After scoring a Best Actress Oscar nomination after winning the Golden Globe for Best Performance By An Actress in a Film Drama for her portrayal of a mother searching for her disappeared politician husband in I?m Still Here, Fernanda Torres tonight is making an apology for a decades-old skit on the Brazilian TV show Fantastico that is beginning to resurface. She played multiple characters in the skit, one of them in blackface. ?Almost twenty years ago, I appeared in blackface in a comedy sketch from a Brazilian TV show,? Torres said in a statement. ?I am very sorry for this. I?m making this statement as it is important for me to address this swiftly to avoid further pain and confusion.]](https://metro.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/SEI_237516667-838e.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&w=638)
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