Last week, the nominations were announced for the88th Annual Academy Awards, and, as is the case in most years, many awards-season favorites were not included. Among the many snubs were African-Americans such asCreeddirectorRyan Coogler,Beasts of No NationstarIdris Elba,ConcussionstarWill Smith, along withStraight Outta Compton, a film lead by a young African-American cast which many felt should have been nominated for Best Picture. This lead to directorSpike Leeand actressJada Pinkett Smithtoboycottthe Oscar ceremony on Sunday, February 28. Last night, Academy presidentCheryl Boone Isaacsreleased a statement on theAcademy Twitter page, where she expressed her frustration over the lack of diversity among the nominees. Here’s what she had to say below.
“I’d like to acknowledge the wonderful work of this year’s nominees. While we celebrate their extraordinary achievements, I am both heartbroken and frustrated about the lack of inclusion. This is a difficult but important conversation, and it’s time for big changes. The Academy is taking dramatic steps to alter the makeup of our membership. In the coming days and weeks we will conduct a review of our membership recruitment in order to bring about much-needed diversity in our 2016 class and beyond. As many of you know, we have implemented changes to diversify our membership in the last four years. But the change is not coming as fast as we would like. We need to do more, and better and more quickly. This isn’t unprecedented for the Academy. In the ’60s and ’70s it was about recruiting younger members to stay vital and relevant. In 2016, the mandate is inclusion in all of its facets: gender, race, ethnicity and sexual orientation. We recognize the very real concerns of our community, and I so appreciate all of you who have reached out to me in our effort to move forward together.”
As the Academy president, an African-American woman, stated, their problem with diversity is not a new one. In 2012,The Los Angeles Timesconducted a study that claimed 94% of the Academy voters were white, with an average age of 62. The study also concluded that all of the Academy’s 15 major branches had a majority of white voters, with some branches upwards of 90%. How the Academy plans on solving its diversity issue remains to be seen, but another report reveals that another prominent African-American actor took issue with the “all-white” Oscar ballot.
The Hollywood Reporterreveals that actorDavid Oyelowospoke at an event last night honoringCheryl Boone-Isaacs, where he went off-script to address the Academy’s diversity problem. The actor, who many feel was unjustly snubbed from getting anOscar nominationforSelmalast year, revealed thatCheryl Boone-Isaacshad a private conversation with him after he didn’t receive a nomination last year, calling the lack ofAfrican-Americannominees for two years in a row “unforgivable.” Here’s part of his statement from last night’s event.
“The Academy has a problem. It’s a problem that needs to be solved. A year ago, I did a film calledSelma, and after theAcademy Awards,Cherylinvited me to her office to talk about what went wrong then. We had a deep and meaningful [conversation]. For 20 opportunities to celebrate actors of color, actresses of color, to be missed last year is one thing; for that to happen again this year is unforgivable.”
It remains to be seen how this controversy will effect the awards ceremony telecast, which takes place Sunday, February 28, hosted byChris Rock. We haven’t heard yet if any other prominent African-American filmmakers or actors plan on boycotting this year’s ceremony alongsideSpike Leeand actressJada Pinkett Smith, but we’ll keep you posted with any updates. What do you think about theAcademy’s lack of diversity in this year’s Oscar nominations? Chime in with your thoughts below.
