Earlier this week (endsFri22Jan16) during a chat with French radio station Europe 1, the 69-year-old, who is nominated this year for her role in 45 Years, claimed the #OscarsWoWhite uproar surrounding next month’s (Feb16) 88th Academy Awards ceremony is “racist to white people”.
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Rampling, who’s nominated in the Best Actress category for “45 Years”, continued, “Why classify people? But do we have to take from this that there should be lots of minorities everywhere?” Many suggested that Rampling should “check her white privilege”. The actress said she is encouraged by this. Do you understand the anger of, for instance, Spike Lee, who called for a boycott of the ceremony?
Caine, a two-time Oscar victor and four-time nominee, also advised that black actors simply “be patient” about getting Academy Award recognition, using himself as an example.
Writer Morgan Leigh Davies tweeted: “The thing about #OscarsSoWhite this year is that they really had options”.
Asked if there should be quotas not a suggestion made by most boycott supporters Rampling said we live “in countries nowadays where everyone is more or less accepted”, but there would always be problems with people being judged “not handsome enough”, “too black” or “too white”. It’s the fact that EVERYONE ELSE thinks you’re wrong. They feel like a minority. In the end you can’t vote for an actor because he’s black.
“Outrageous, ignorant & offensive comments from Rampling”, she posted on her official Twitter page. The session ended with a unanimous vote to endorse the new processes, but action on possible changes to Oscar balloting was deferred for later consideration.
It also prompted the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences to announce changes to the organization this week with the goal of doubling female and diverse membership by the year 2020.
Isaacs unveiled the organisation’s plans for the future on Friday, saying in a statement: “The Academy is going to lead and not wait for the industry to catch up”.
Others including actors George Clooney, Mark Ruffalo, Lupita Nyong’o, David Oyelowo, Viola Davis, and British director Steve McQueen have spoken of their disappointment with the lack of diversity among the nominees.
Michael Caine is addressing the Academy Awards’ lack of diversity.
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She announced plans for an “ambitious, global campaign to identify and recruit qualified new members who represent greater diversity”.
