On Sunday, veteran Hollywood actor Ed Begley Jr. and his daughter Hayden Carson Begley arrived at the Oscars’ champagne carpet, proudly displaying their subway cards. The father-daughter duo have a tradition of taking public transportation to the Oscars, and they had to walk from a nearby station to the event as the station underneath the venue was closed for the ceremony.
Ed Begley Jr.’s dedication to environmentalism has led him to seek alternative modes of transportation for the Oscars in the past. In 2015, he biked to the ceremony through the rain while wearing a suit and bow tie, and in 2020, he utilized a solar-charged electric vehicle to attend.
Hayden showcased their adventure on TikTok, which has been viewed almost 2 million times, as part of a weeklong series where she used only public transportation to get around. The TikTok video showcased their journey, which required a bus, the red line, and a walk around barricades.
Ed’s passion for environmentalism has influenced Hayden’s interest in the cause, and when she was 14, Ed asked her if she wanted to make a statement by taking public transportation to the Oscars.
Ed’s environmentalism started as a way to honor his father’s values. His father lived through the Great Depression and despised superfluous waste, saving tin foil, according to Hayden.
Hayden’s advocacy of public transportation sparked criticism from some viewers who saw it as “playing at being poor.” However, Hayden aims to use her TikTok following to raise awareness of environmental issues and promote sustainable choices.
Hayden hopes to make sustainable options visible and accessible to a wider audience. She believes that personal responsibility will not make as much of a dent in helping combat climate change as corporate responsibility, but it’s still impactful. For that reason, she still checks the wattage of the light bulbs in the 500-square-foot apartment she now lives in upon moving in. When she got a car, she got an electrical vehicle.
James Martin, an actor with Down syndrome, made history by winning an Oscar for his role in “An Irish Goodbye.” Despite his success, Martin chose to return to his part-time job at Starbucks. He leads the 23-minute drama short as Lorcan, a young man whose mother’s passing reunites him with his estranged brother, Turlough (Seamus O’Hara).
In 2019, transportation accounted for 33% of emissions in the United States. Using public transportation can drastically cut down on those emissions. But, ridership has dipped in LA, and Hayden said some people aren’t even aware the city has a subway system. Hayden aims to change that and inspire more people to make sustainable choices.
