The host didn’t waste any time before diving into the highly talked about diversity issue with the nominations this year, and in turn, slammed Jada Pinkett Smith and her hubby for their stance on the matter. Y’all be watching Neil Patrick Harris right now….I thought about quitting.
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The controversy, which was attached to the hashtag #OscarsSoWhite, was immediately taken on by host Chris Rock who opened the show with amusing yet pointed commentary.
Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu, who won the best director Oscar for “The Revenant”, has defended himself in the face of criticism for not applauding costume designer Jenny Beavan as she made her way to the stage to pick up her award.
“It’s the 88th Academy Awards, which means this whole no-black-nominees thing has happened at least 71 other times”.
Rev. Al Sharpton, center, leads a rally prior to the Academy Awards ceremony, Sunday, Feb. 28, 2016, in the Hollywood section of Los Angeles in support of the nationwide tv tune-out protesting the lack of diversity in Hollywood. Jada went mad. Will (Smith) went mad.
After picking up the Oscar for “The Revenant”, DiCaprio said his fame has put him in a position to advocate on the issue. The co-host lauded, “Climate change and to see the passion, what is the message you wanted to get out tonight?”
The comedian also asked what everyone’s “favourite white movie” had been, and was stunned when one woman said Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie’s By the Sea. “I wouldn’t know”, the actor said, showing he can make any mood lighter.
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If you want black nominees every year, you need to have black categories. But I realised, they’re going to have the Oscars anyway. “We are sure that the film will continue doing well at the box office especially after being victorious at the Oscars”, he said. Citing Nielsen data, ABC said that there were 7.2 million tweets about the Oscars, with the most-tweeted minute occurring during Mr. DiCaprio’s win.
