Famous People Who Have Turned Down Major Awards or Nominations

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John Lennon (musician; Beatle)
> Declined award or nomination: Returned his Member of the Order of the British Empire award
> Year: 1969
> Reason: In protest at Britain’s foreign policy

Source: Tiia Monto / Wikimedia Commons

USA Men’s Olympic Basketball team
> Declined award or nomination: Olympic silver medal
> Year: 1972
> Reason: In protest of how referees called the game

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Marlon Brando (actor)
> Declined award or nomination: Oscar for Best Actor
> Year: 1973
> Reason: To protest the degrading portrayals of Native Americans in film, and to draw attention to an armed conflict that was taking place at Wounded Knee

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Lê Đức Thọ (Vietnamese revolutionary and politician)
> Declined award or nomination: Nobel Peace Prize
> Year: 1973
> Reason: The war in Vietnam was not yet over

Source: Archive Photos / Archive Photos via Getty Images

Peter O’Toole (actor)
> Declined award or nomination: Knighthood
> Year: 1987
> Reason: Personal and political reasons including his opposition to war

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