Film academy president Tom Sherak is coming to Oprah Winfrey's defense.
Sherak says Winfrey is "one of the most philanthropic performers in the world" and thus deserving of the academy's Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award.
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences voted Tuesday to present Winfrey with an Oscar statuette at the annual Governors Awards in November. James Earl Jones and makeup artist Dick Smith will also receive honorary Oscars at the private ceremony.
Blogs have been abuzz with criticism over the academy's selection of Winfrey for the award. One newspaper entertainment critic called it "a boneheaded move."
Sherak said the academy's board of governors "felt very strongly" about honoring Winfrey and are "very happy" about the decision.