A group of African American activists in Los Angeles on Thursday (January 14) evening called on people to “tune out” the Academy Awards to protest the lack of minorities represented in nominations announced early that morning.
Following last year’s awards, which shut actors of color out of the industry’s biggest honors, the hashtag #OscarsSoWhite emerged. It was quickly revived on Thursday morning, when only white actors received nods.
“They promised to put an institute forward to encourage diversity, they promise to encourage filmmakers and the studios to increase their numbers of minorities. They promised to provide more opportunities for minorities, and they especially said in the academy we’re going to broaden those that vote on the Oscar nominees. Well now one year later it’s even worse than last year. It’s even whiter than last year,” Earl Ofari Hutchinson, president of the Los Angeles Urban Policy Roundtable told reporters at a news conference.
Activists cited a number of strong performances and films featuring people of color that failed to get the Academy’s attention.
Will Smith, who stars in football injury drama “Concussion,” and Idris Elba from “Beasts of No Nation” were among the black actors who were not nominated this year. The black cast and director of hip hop biopic “Straight Outta Compton” were also left out of the race.
Ofari Hutchinson said boycotting the awards would get Hollywood’s attention.
“This year we’re going to do everything we can to drive the ratings down. Hollywood only understands one thing – dollars dollars dollars – doesn’t understand anything else. And dollars means ratings. If we drive those dollars, drive those ratings down, Hollywood is going to get the message. We’re determined they get the message,” he said.
“There’s an old saying: ‘Don’t shop where you can’t work’. So we say this: ‘Don’t watch where you can’t work’. We’re calling for a national tune out of the Academy Awards ceremony – it’s going to be February 28th. Don’t watch it,” he added.
The Oscars, chosen by the 6,000 members of the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences, can have up to 10 best picture nominees, but voters selected just eight. (Reuters)
