To date, there has been plenty of backlash from members of Hollywood surrounding the lack of diversity at this year’s Oscars (#OscarsSoWhite).
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John Singleton, Oscar-nominated for directing the 1991 film “Boyz n the Hood”, said nominations for the industry’s most prestigious awards are a lottery. “Think about how many more African Americans were nominated”, citing Don Cheadle and Morgan Freeman’s nominations.
Isaacs, who is African-American, added that it isn’t unprecedented for the Academy to change its ranks to include more diversity.
“And all of a sudden, you feel like we’re moving in the wrong direction”, he said.
He added: “For Hispanics, it’s even worse. I stand with my peers who are calling for change in expanding the stories that are told and recognition of the people who tell them”.
Although the Academy does not publish membership roles, many have pointed to the presumed whiteness of Oscar voters as the cause of the continued whiteness of its nominees.
Earlier in the day, Spike Lee and Jada Pinkett Smith announced on social media that they would boycott the February 28 ceremony.
Mr. Lee, who won an Oscar a year ago for his lifetime achievements as a filmmaker and actor, blamed the executives who run Hollywood studios for the absence of minorities in Oscar-contending roles. It just sort of left you wondering, “Ok, what’s going on here?'” said Gil Robertson, the president of the African-American Film Critics Association. When the Academy Awards began, a sea of white faces was expected because of, you know, institutional nationwide racism. “It doesn’t reflect this nation”.
Cheryl Boone Isaacs, the president of the Academy, released a statement on January 18 saying they would be reviewing their membership recruitment process “in order to bring about much-needed diversity”. It better happen quickly.
The “Bowling for Columbine” director told The Wrap that he “absolutely” supports Jones and Pinkett Smith’s boycotting of the Oscars.
“So if it will help to lend my name to what Spike and Jada are doing, I’m hoping to be a symbolic participant in this [boycott]”. The Times found that blacks account for 2 percent of the Academy and Latinos are less than 2 percent.
Oyelowo noted that some of the most popular movies and television shows over the past year featured black actors.
Men make up more than 90% of five branches, including cinematography and visual effects.
Clooney echoed Oyelowo’s statements in an interview with Variety.
Both “Creed” and “Straight Outta Compton” only received one nomination each.
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Hubert said it was “ironic that somebody who has made their living and made millions and millions of dollars from the very people you’re talking about boycotting just because you didn’t get a nomination, just because you didn’t win”.
