Academy Award-winning actor Casey Affleck, who was accused by two women of sexual harassment during filming of a 2010 movie, won’t be returning to the Oscar stage next month as a presenter.

Deadline Hollywood reported Thursday that Affleck has withdrawn as a presenter, breaking with the Oscar tradition of the best-actor winner returning the following year to present the award for best actress.

Affleck won the best-actor prize last year for “Manchester by the Sea.”

Following his win, however, headlines re-emerged about sexual- misconduct lawsuits that were filed against him by two women who worked on 2010 film “I’m Still Here,” which Affleck directed. The cases were settled out of court.

News of the allegations, coupled with Hollywood’s growing #MeToo movement against sexual harassment and misconduct, created the potential for an awkward setting at the Oscar ceremony if Affleck were to serve as a presenter.

Affleck had not yet been officially announced as a presenter at the Oscars, which will be held March 4.

–City News Service

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