Hollywood's United Talent Agency (UTA) decided to forgo it's annual pre-Oscar party this year in solidarity with Academy Award-winning Iranian filmmaker and client Asghar Farhadi.
Farhadi, who won this year's Academy Award for his film, The Salesman, on Sunday was boycotting the Oscars due to "unjust circumstances" namely, Donald Trump's Muslim-ban.
The agency decided to throw a rally against Trump and his Muslim ban, instead of its party, on Feb. 25.
The UTA released a statement regarding Farhadi's choice, saying, "The agency is witnessing the current controversy firsthand through the experiences of Academy Award-winning Iranian filmmaker Asghar Farhadi, a UTA client."
Additionally, the agency decided to cancel it's own lavish party, and instead hold a rally in its place against the anti-immigration sentiment initiated by U.S. President Donald Trump.
When hearing of the cancellation, Farhadi texted the agency from Tehran, saying that he was "honored and in tears", according to The Hollywood Reporter.
In addition to the rally, UTA donated $250,000 to the American Civil Liberties Union and the International Rescue Committee, as well as launching a CrowdRise fundraising campaign to gather more donations for the two organizations.
UTA CEO Jeremy Zimmer said: “When fear and division get the better of a society, artists are among the first to feel the impact—and to denounce the ill winds. With our words and our actions, the UTA family is speaking up for so many, including all artists and the vital global conversations they help lead.”