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David Oyelowo calls for radical reform of the Oscars to tackle diversity deficit David Oyelowo calls for radical reform of the Oscars to tackle diversity deficit
(7 months later)
David Oyelowo has called for “radical and timely” reform of the Oscars within months, rather than years, after Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences president Cheryl Boone Isaacs’ vowed to take “dramatic steps” to tackle a drastic escalation in the row over this year’s all-white list of nominees.David Oyelowo has called for “radical and timely” reform of the Oscars within months, rather than years, after Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences president Cheryl Boone Isaacs’ vowed to take “dramatic steps” to tackle a drastic escalation in the row over this year’s all-white list of nominees.
Selma star Oyelowo, who famously missed out on a best actor nomination for his role as Martin Luther King Jr at last year’s Oscars, said the current Academy “doesn’t reflect me, and it doesn’t reflect this nation”. He compared the battle over diversity at the world’s most famous film ceremony to the 1960s campaign for African American voting rights.Selma star Oyelowo, who famously missed out on a best actor nomination for his role as Martin Luther King Jr at last year’s Oscars, said the current Academy “doesn’t reflect me, and it doesn’t reflect this nation”. He compared the battle over diversity at the world’s most famous film ceremony to the 1960s campaign for African American voting rights.
Related: Oscars 2016: academy to review diversity of membership after stars threaten boycott
“When Dr King said we need the Voting Rights Act to be passed, LBJ said it’s too soon, it can’t be done,” recalled Oyelowo, who was speaking at a gala honouring Isaacs on Monday night in Los Angeles. “People were losing their lives. People weren’t allowed to vote. Dr King said [we cannot] wait. What was done was done not in years but months.”“When Dr King said we need the Voting Rights Act to be passed, LBJ said it’s too soon, it can’t be done,” recalled Oyelowo, who was speaking at a gala honouring Isaacs on Monday night in Los Angeles. “People were losing their lives. People weren’t allowed to vote. Dr King said [we cannot] wait. What was done was done not in years but months.”
Added Oyelowo: “The Academy is an institution in which they all say radical and timely change cannot happen quickly. It better happen quickly. The law of this country can change in a matter of months. The Oscars is on February 28. Cheryl needs us to pray that by that date, change is going to come.”Added Oyelowo: “The Academy is an institution in which they all say radical and timely change cannot happen quickly. It better happen quickly. The law of this country can change in a matter of months. The Oscars is on February 28. Cheryl needs us to pray that by that date, change is going to come.”
Boone Isaacs on Monday described herself as “heartbroken and frustrated” by the lack of diversity in this year’s Oscar nominations – all 20 acting nominees are white, and there are no individual nominees from ethnic minority backgrounds in any of the major categories. “The Academy is taking dramatic steps to alter the makeup of our membership,” she promised. “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.”Boone Isaacs on Monday described herself as “heartbroken and frustrated” by the lack of diversity in this year’s Oscar nominations – all 20 acting nominees are white, and there are no individual nominees from ethnic minority backgrounds in any of the major categories. “The Academy is taking dramatic steps to alter the makeup of our membership,” she promised. “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.”
Related: Spike Lee to boycott the 2016 Oscars over lack of nominee diversity
Earlier, director Spike Lee had expressed frustration with this year’s “Lilly White” [sic] nominees on Instagram. He said he and his wife Tonya Lewis Lee would not be attending the February ceremony.Earlier, director Spike Lee had expressed frustration with this year’s “Lilly White” [sic] nominees on Instagram. He said he and his wife Tonya Lewis Lee would not be attending the February ceremony.
Jada Pinkett Smith, whose husband Will Smith missed out on a best actor nomination for his role in the NFL drama Concussion, said she would not be attending the ceremony in a video posted to Facebook. The Matrix Revolutions and Magic Mike XXL star had previously tweeted her “deep disappointment” with the lack of diversity.Jada Pinkett Smith, whose husband Will Smith missed out on a best actor nomination for his role in the NFL drama Concussion, said she would not be attending the ceremony in a video posted to Facebook. The Matrix Revolutions and Magic Mike XXL star had previously tweeted her “deep disappointment” with the lack of diversity.
By contrast, the first ever African American nominee for best director, Boyz n the Hood’s John Singleton, said he was unconcerned at the absence of non-white faces among this year’s Oscars hopefuls for the second year running.By contrast, the first ever African American nominee for best director, Boyz n the Hood’s John Singleton, said he was unconcerned at the absence of non-white faces among this year’s Oscars hopefuls for the second year running.
“There are a couple of movies that may have [warranted attention] but … it’s all subjective. It’s almost like the lottery,” Singleton told Variety. “To me, I’m not surprised. I’m not disappointed either, as much as other people are disappointed.“There are a couple of movies that may have [warranted attention] but … it’s all subjective. It’s almost like the lottery,” Singleton told Variety. “To me, I’m not surprised. I’m not disappointed either, as much as other people are disappointed.
Related: How to fix Hollywood's race problem
“As my friend Sidney Poitier told me when Boyz n the Hood came out, just because a film doesn’t get recognised when it first comes out, does not mean it’s not a great film,” added Singleton. “Singin’ in the Rain was not lauded when it first came out, but Singin’ in the Rain became a classic.”“As my friend Sidney Poitier told me when Boyz n the Hood came out, just because a film doesn’t get recognised when it first comes out, does not mean it’s not a great film,” added Singleton. “Singin’ in the Rain was not lauded when it first came out, but Singin’ in the Rain became a classic.”
A former co-star of Will Smith, Janet Hubert, went even further on Monday by lambasting Pinkett Smith for talking up a boycott of the Oscars over diversity failings. Hubert, who starred as Aunt Viv on the long-running sitcom The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, posted a video to YouTube encouraging the Men in Black star to speak for himself on the issue.A former co-star of Will Smith, Janet Hubert, went even further on Monday by lambasting Pinkett Smith for talking up a boycott of the Oscars over diversity failings. Hubert, who starred as Aunt Viv on the long-running sitcom The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, posted a video to YouTube encouraging the Men in Black star to speak for himself on the issue.
“First of all, Miss Thing does your man not have a mouth of his own with which to speak?” she said. “The second thing, girlfriend, there’s a lot of shit going on in the world that you all don’t seem to recognise. People are dying. Our boys are being shot left and right. People are starving. People are trying to pay bills. And you’re talking about some motherfucking actors and Oscars. It just ain’t that deep.”“First of all, Miss Thing does your man not have a mouth of his own with which to speak?” she said. “The second thing, girlfriend, there’s a lot of shit going on in the world that you all don’t seem to recognise. People are dying. Our boys are being shot left and right. People are starving. People are trying to pay bills. And you’re talking about some motherfucking actors and Oscars. It just ain’t that deep.”