The Academy is fighting back after a report alleged that “Spider-Man” star Andrew Garfield angrily nixed a special segment with Miles Scott, the five-year-old cancer patient who charmed the nation this fall.
Scott was supposed to be presented by Garfield as the “next big superhero,” according to Mashable, and a set reminiscent of Gotham City from the “Batman” comics was even built for the occasion. It was a nod to the extravagant role-playing afternoon put on by the Make-A-Wish Foundation and the city of San Francisco.
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The segment was scrapped, but according to the Academy, it was not because Garfield angrily rejected the script he was given, as alleged by the NY Post.
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“Due to the nature of a live show, hard decisions sometimes must be made which require the Academy to cut segments due to the logistics of production,” the Academy said in a statement. “Andrew Garfield understood that his segment had to be omitted, and he drove to Disneyland on Monday to spend time with 5-year-old Miles Scott (Batkid) and his family.”
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The segment was one of several cut out for the Oscars telecast, which stretched to four hours on Sunday evening. TMZ reported that Garfield and Scott’s segment was cut for time and because it didn’t fit the tone of the show, and that not only did the two go to Disneyland together, they also performed a “mini Oscars” ceremony in Scott’s hotel room.
Chris Evans introduced the video montage about heroes that Garfield and Scott were supposed to present.
Reps for Garfield have not yet returned TheWrap’s request for comment.