Stars including Will and Jada Pinkett Smith, Spike Lee and Mark Ruffalo have all spoken publicly about their disappointment that no black actors or actresses featured in the nominations for the 2016 awards.
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One of the acting nominees joining the boycott would add a new chapter in the backlash that has roiled the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences.
On Friday, Academy members received a letter stating that going forward, each new member’s voting status will last 10 years and will only be renewed if a member stays active in motion pictures during that decade. Members who do not qualify for active status will be transitioned to “emeritus status”, under which they do not pay dues and have no voting privileges.
The changes not only expand diversity of future membership, but change the demographic of current members.
The board of governors unanimously approved the reforms late Thursday.
The obvious absence of minority nominees for a second year running has sparked demands for a change while the revived Twitter hashtag #Oscarssowhite has started trending again. Asked to elaborate, she said they (including herself) are just entertainers.
In order to immediately increase diversity on the Board of Governors, the Academy will establish three new governor seats that will be nominated by the President for three-year terms and confirmed by the Board. She added: “Shame is a helluva motivator”.
“When I see this list and series of nominations that come out – and everybody is fantastic and that’s the complexity of this issue, everyone is handsome and deserving and it’s fantastic – but it feels like it’s going the wrong direction”.
“… How is it possible for the second consecutive year all 20 contenders under the actor category are white?”
It’s important to remember that even the more outright snubs, including “Straight Outta Compton” for best picture and “Beasts of No Nation” actor Idris Elba for supporting actor, could partially be the result of one of the most competitive Oscar races in years.
And director Rick Famuyiwa, whose films include “The Wood”, “Brown Sugar” and last year’s “Dope” commented: “The devil is in the details”.
The president of the African-American Film Critics Association, Gil Robertson, said he thought the Academy was acting quickly and sincerely to address the issue. An Oscar boycott is also on the cards for Spike Lee who was the first to fuel the issue. Forty white actors in two years and no flava at all.
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Michael Moore and actors George Clooney and David Oyelowo also spoke out about the controversy, and there’s been talks of a boycott of the February 28 ceremony.
