Rock was clearly psyched to live up to the high expectations set for his performance at the “White People’s Choice Awards”, as he put it.
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Among the sure bets, popular Leonardo DiCaprio is seen as certain to win his first ever Oscar for his role as an 1820s fur trapper bent on revenge in “The Revenant”. We have to climb steeper hills and steeper mountains to get to the top.
Amid the widespread reactions to the #OscarsSoWhite controversy, all eyes were on how Chris Rock would handle hosting duties – particularly after his peers had requested he boycott the awards show. “People are like, ‘Chris, you should boycott”. I thought about quitting … But when he realized they would have the Oscars without him anyway, he decided, “The last thing I need is to lose another job to Kevin Hart”. “Porno stars don’t make movies that fast”.
Down the street from the Dolby Theatre, Sharpton led several dozen demonstrators in protest against a second straight year of all-white acting nominees.
In case you didn’t spot the offending phrase, it was Rock saying “we had real things to protest” decades ago – which some took as the host suggesting there are not legitimate issues to protest now.
The protests are part of a boycott of the 88th annual Academy Awards organized by Rev. Al Sharpton. Broadly, the Twitterverse had a warm response to the monologue and its overt addressing of #OscarsSoWhite.
Common, who won an Oscar previous year for his song “Glory”, said the film community is aware there’s a problem, but now it’s time “to work toward a solution”.
“You know, when your grandmother’s swinging from a tree, it’s really hard to care about best documentary foreign short”.
Earlier this month, director Spike Lee – who was one of the first figures to speak publicly about the lack of diversity – said the boycott had been vindicated by the response from organisers. I’m not hating. I understand you’re mad.
And as they’re setting up the picture, you get a little moment with the president, I’m like, “Mr. President, you see all these writers and producers and actors? It’s also not fair that Will [Smith] was paid $20 million for Wild Wild West”.
He described Hollywood’s racism as pernicious.
He said: “Everyone wants to know is Hollywood racist? Is it burning cross racist?” he commented on the larger issues of diversity. “Is it, ‘Fetch me some lemonade” racist? Gossett Jr. said he sympathized with the protesters, but felt change needed to come from within. You’re damn right Hollywood’s racist. But Hollywood is sorority racist.
“We like you Ronda, but you’re not a Kappa”, Rock quipped. Finally, we will get to find out if Leo DiCaprio, 41, will land that elusive Best Actor Oscar for his star-turn in The Revenant.
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The host then said in 88 years of Oscars, there had to be at least “71 other years” there were no black acting nominees.
