So they awarded Kobe Bryant an Oscar, even though these awards shows have been having a “metoo”/“timesup” spin, and he was accused of sexual assault in 2003. Was this dissonance with the narrative an oversight, or a calculated publicity stunt? Or is there no dissonance? Wikipedia says prosecutors dropped charges when the accuser refused to testify. Is the narrative that we believe him, her, or neither? Or maybe we are leaning a certain way in what we believe (which way)? Suppose we believe it was consensual. Is the extramarital aspect beyond the scope of “metoo”/“timesup” movements? And is the power differential between “basketball star” and “hotel employee where he is staying” of a different nature than the power differentials flagged by these movements?
It was probably the Acadamy recognizing a celebrity (a local one too) and voting based off of that. No more, no less.
Also in a category that, let’s be honest, no one cares about or pays attention to.
You think too much 
I think it’s an indication that there is a change underway in the entertainment industry. But the key word here is underway; the industry is still figuring out what the new standards are and how they apply to the current treatment of people for things they did in the past.
I think that’s dismissing this too readily. The Academy, by its own claim, represents the Hollywood film industry and the awards are supposed to be its recognition of merit to individuals. Receiving an Oscar, even in a minor category, is essentially receiving the film industry’s blessing.
In most cases, this is just a non-controversial acknowledgement that the receiver did some good work. But there has always been the issue of personal character as well.
Casey Affleck’s Oscar was controversial even last year.
I saw all of the nominated animated short films in the theater on Saturday, and I would have voted for that one myself.
Dear Basketball was good and all, but I’m a bit miffed that Garden Party didn’t win. That was by far my favorite of the nominations, the ending was particularly bold. Lou would be my second place.
Lou was very good, particularly in the way the title character was animated. But I discounted a bit for being product of the Disney/Pixar juggernaut.
I saw the package of animated shorts that included the nominees plus a few honorable mentions to round out the time.
The basketball one was competently done but of the nominees was the least deserving to win. Garden Party was good but lost it at the end, the reveal was unnecessary. Lou was great but not out of the norm for Pixar. Revolting Rhymes was out of place due to its length but was overall entertaining. I would have voted for Negative Space.
I am certain that Dear Basketball won because most voters had not seen the nominees and just voted based on name and did not want to give Pixar/Disney another award. Bryant’s past would have had little to do with my not voting for him, I just don’t see that he did anything all that creative. He wrote a farewell letter to his job. It was not the best thing ever written. The animation was nice but not unusual.
The film industry is a billions-of-dollars-a year thing and there are only 24 of them handed out in the pre-set categories. There aren’t any minor categories. 
It should be borne in mind that the same group of people isn’t voting in every category. Not everyone can vote for Best Animated Short; only members of the Short Films and Feature Anomation Branches can do so. Emma Stone and Charlie Kaufman don’t get a say, no matter how much they didn’t like Dear Basketball; only experts in the field do.
It’s just the latest confirmation that Kobe Bryant is damn lucky to have done what he did at a time where the scrutiny would be put on the victim, not the accused. Look what he said after the case was dropped, and how do you think a statement like this would play today?
And Gary Oldman won for Best Actor, despite once being arrested for domestic violence. While the charges were dropped, the guy isn’t exactly known for being a great individual.
Here’s the thing: these are NOT the “Good Guy Awards”. They’re to award people for their performances in film. Not how they are as people. I really, really wish everyone would remember that and stop complaining. Should we pay attention to what’s going on in Hollywood? Yes, absolutely. But let’s also not say, “he/she shouldn’t have gotten this award!!! They did this or that!!!” That’s not part of the criteria to win.
If you have a problem with that, lobby to change it.
For some, the solution is to make sure those people aren’t hired for the roles that earn them awards in the first place. Spacey them, IOW.
I care about the short film awards. And Dear Basketball was the weakest of the bunch.
Hollywood loves them some Lakers, and that’s about the only reason it won. I’m sure the voters never considered Kobe’s history. They probably dismissed it as the time as some “gold digger”, or put it out of their minds.
I would have voted for Negative Space. Garden Party was by far the best technical film, surpassing all the others, but I thought it was not as much of a story. Lou was just too “Pixarish”. Fun, but not Oscar Worthy. Revolting Rhymes was OK, but a bit long (it’s actually one of two films.).
Bryant had one accusation, which was just that - an accusation, and unproven - in 2003, and no other such incidents that I’m aware of since then. He is just barely even on the radar of “guys with sketchy pasts.” I don’t think it’s right that his reputation should be tarnished by this one allegation. He seems like a good guy in general, especially compared to a lot of other high profile men who have been in the news lately.
It was a pretty substantial accusation.
I’m surprised no one has had an issue with the power differential. Is the general consensus that “it’s ok to have consensual sex with the maid”, even from the standpoint of metoo/timesup?
If it’s consensual, it’s consensual. And the “power differential” is, frankly, irrelevant. Are billionaires not allowed to have consensual sex with non billionaires? Celebrities can’t have sex with non celebrities? Does that mean that middle class people can’t have sex with poor people?
What if you are in a relationship with someone of equal power/wealth/fame/whatever as you, but then they lose everything in a bad investment and their career goes bust? Do you become a rapist overnight, or how exactly does that work?
What stood out for me was that Kobe clearly has more experience with acceptance speeches than anyone else in the room.
From the Wikipedia page on the case:
Jesus. Kobe has the benefit of time passing and an accuser who did not and has not sought visibility for the case.