Never underestimate the power of literally anything to sway the Oscar race. Nothing is ever set in stone until the ultimate prize is handed out. It’s like a Presidential election with ten candidates. What does a voter do if he or she is supporting a lesser nominee with little to no chance of winning? Do you stick with your gut, or do you vote for one of the front runners simply because you don’t want another front runner to win? These are the issues that ultimately determine who gets the Academy Award. Well, that and animal rights.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, The King’s Speech was threatened with a lawsuit by animal rights group The American Humane Society over its use of the phrase “No animals were harmed” during the closing credits. Most people don’t realize that’s a real stamp of approval placed on a film by The American Humane Society after script reviews and a set visit. Problem being that the AHS had nothing to do with the King's Speech production.
When the story first broke, many were openly speculating on the possibility of backlash from the Academy’s numerous animal rights activists, but just as the gossip was heating up, the two sides resolved their dispute. Apparently, no animals were harmed in the making of The King’s Speech, but as a British production, The American Humane Society was not involved. The company simply wanted the Oscar contender to remove said phrasing. All has been taken care of, and now voters will be left to mull over the merits of each picture on their own. At least until another issue pops up.
