The Academy’s Board of Governors said the changes are created to “make the Academy’s membership, its governing bodies, and its voting members significantly more diverse”.
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Lee, who is this year’s honorary Oscar recipient, said the nominees are a reflection of the problems in Hollywood throughout the entertainment industry. Academy members who have served three 10-year terms will receive lifetime voting rights, as will all Oscar nominees and winners. Members who fail to qualify for active status will be reclassified as emeritus members, and will not have an Oscar vote.
The changes will go into effect later this year and will not affect the voting for this year’s Oscars. These seats will be nominated by the Academy president for three-year terms.
-Adding new members to the executive board and various board committees, all of which have a hand in determining membership and rules of governance.
Lee, Smith, Pinkett-Smith and documentary director Michael Moore are the only major stars so far to announce they will not attend the Oscars.
“This will allow new members an opportunity to become more active in Academy decision-making and help the organization identify and nurture future leaders”, the release stated.
Will Smith has added his voice to the #OscarsSoWhite backlash, confirming today that he will be joining his wife, Jada Pinkett Smith, in not attending the Academy Awards.
After no African Americans were nominated in the acting categories for the second straight year, social media users tweeted their displeasure with posts under the hashtag #OscarsStillSoWhite, a follow-up to 2015’s #OscarsSoWhite.
Actor Will Smith has confirmed he will boycott the 2016 Oscars following allegations the Academy has snubbed black actors.
The academy, with its overwhelmingly white voting membership, has taken notice.
“This is a hard but important conversation, and it’s time for big changes”, she said.
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The 47-year-old believed the awards, to be held in Hollywood on February 28 (February 29 NZ time), were not reflecting the beauty of Hollywood as a whole.
