Peter Gabriel Pulls Out of Oscars

Friday, February 13, 2009 10:30:00 AM PT, E! Online 213 comments
Best Song Nominee Peter Gabriel Best Song Nominee Peter GabrielE! Online

Peter Gabriel won't be in your—or anyone else's—eyes come Oscar night.

The singer has pulled out of performing his Best Song nomination on the awards show after producers, in one of their many concerted efforts this year to increase telecast ratings and otherwise shake things up, limited him to just 65 seconds on stage.

His nominated tune, "Down to Earth" from Wall-E, clocks in at just under six minutes.

"I'm an old fart and it's not going to do me any harm to make a little protest," Gabriel said in a video posted to his website. "But the ceremony should be fun and I'm looking forward to it."

In his place, Gabriel said he hopes the Soweto Gospel Choir would step in to perform the highly condensed version of the song, expected to be part of a medley with the other two Best Song nominees, A.R. Rahman's "Jai Ho" and "O Saya," both from Slumdog Millionaire.

"I do think it's a bit unfortunate," Gabriel said of producers' decision to shoehorn the songs into one performance. "The songwriters, even though they're a small part of the filmmaking process, we still work bloody hard and I think deserve a place in the ceremony as well."

Despite his decision not to take the stage, Gabriel will still be in attendance at the 81st Annual Academy Awards Feb. 22. The Academy has yet to comment on Gabriel's withdrawal.

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213 comments

comments 1-10 of 213  | newest | < newer | older > | oldest
  • punkin
    If Robert Downey Jr. wins for comically playing a black man then I'm starting a protest
    report abuseposted February 19, 2009, 6:11 am PST
  • tidegirl
    I agree w/ JJ- I thought the Dark Knight was SUPER boring- both me and my husband fell asleep 3 times in the 1st hr- then turned it off- I really liked Heath Ledger in other movies- but I did not like this movie at all.
    report abuseposted February 19, 2009, 5:18 am PST
  • Big D
    That's right, Peter Gabriel! Give 'em the "Sledgehammer"!!!!
    report abuseposted February 18, 2009, 10:32 pm PST
  • Big D
    That's right, Peter Gabriel! Give 'em the "Sledgehammer"!!!!
    report abuseposted February 18, 2009, 10:31 pm PST
  • Big D
    That's right, Peter Gabriel! Give 'em the "Sledgehammer"!!!!
    report abuseposted February 18, 2009, 10:31 pm PST
  • Big D
    That's right, Peter Gabriel! Give 'em the "Sledgehammer"!!!!
    report abuseposted February 18, 2009, 10:31 pm PST
  • Big D
    That's right, Peter Gabriel! Give 'em the "Sledgehammer"!!!!
    report abuseposted February 18, 2009, 10:31 pm PST
  • Alyson
    I hope Robert Downey Jr wins. He is a good role model in how one can make it through addiction and return to being relevant and vibrant. If we have to have Hollywood actors as hero, then, in my opinion, that is a good hero for these times--one who makes it through long enough to rebuild. And Peter Gabriel is way too into that Performance Art vibe to be denied an actual performance.
    report abuseposted February 18, 2009, 10:26 pm PST
  • Alyson
    I hope Robert Downey Jr wins. He is a good role model in how one can make it through addiction and return to being relevant and vibrant. If we have to have Hollywood actors as hero, then, in my opinion, that is a good hero for these times--one who makes it through long enough to rebuild. And Peter Gabriel is way too into that Performance Art vibe to be denied an actual performance.
    report abuseposted February 18, 2009, 10:26 pm PST
  • LB
    The Joker role almost put me to sleep, as did the whole film. Not Ledger's fault but I wouldn't give him an award just because he's dead.
    report abuseposted February 18, 2009, 10:25 pm PST
comments 1-10 of 213  | newest | < newer | older > | oldest

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