Oscar winner asks President Biden for Brittney Griner’s return in acceptance speech

Through Maureen Meihan

Ben Proudfoot’s The Queen of Basketball, directed by Shaquille O’Neal and Stephen Curry as executive producers, tells the story of Lucy Harris, the only woman drafted by the NBA and the first black woman to serve in was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame.

After receiving the Oscar, Proudfoot took the moment to call President Joe Biden and urge him to secure the release of two-time Olympic gold medalist and top player Brittney Griner, who is being held in Russia. “President Biden, take Brittney Griner home,” Proudfoot said.

Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images

Griner was arrested at the Moscow airport where she was playing during the off-season and accused of having cannabis oil in her pockets.

“President Biden: Bring Brittney Griner Home!”

Ben Proudfoot accepts the Oscar for Best Documentary for The Queen of Basketball. https://t.co/1H1Y9jC9bl#oscars pic.twitter.com/8Du7TPIAIZ

— ABC News (@ABC) March 28, 2022

“If there’s anyone out there who doubts there’s an audience for female athletes and wonders if their stories are valuable, entertaining or important…let this Oscar be the answer,” said Proudfoot, who is from Halifax of the awards ceremony in Los Angeles, via the Associated Press.

“This proves that the story of Lucy Harris, after being ignored for 45 years, does mean something deep for America and the world,” he told the Canadian Press.

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“From a quiet Mississippi town to the world stage, Lucy Harris, the queen of basketball, always has and will always be at the top. Your record is a record that will never be broken.”

This article originally appeared on Benzinga and has been republished with permission.

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