Spike Lee Is Boycotting the Oscars Over Extreme Lack of Diversity
Spike Lee at the premiere of ‘Chiraq’ (AP)
by Hilary Lewis
Spike Lee is refusing to attend this year’s Oscars due to the fact that for the second year in a row, all of the acting nominees are white.
The filmmaker, who was awarded an honorary Oscar at the Governors Awards in November, said that while he appreciated that recognition, he and his wife “cannot support” this year’s Academy Awards.
“Mean No Disrespect To My Friends, Host Chris Rock and Producer Reggie Hudlin, President Isaacs And The Academy,” Lee wrote in an Instagram post on Monday morning. “But, How Is It Possible For The 2nd Consecutive Year All 20 Contenders Under The Actor Category Are White? And Let’s Not Even Get Into The Other Branches. 40 White Actors In 2 Years And No Flava At All. We Can’t Act?! WTF!!”
Lee’s comments accompanied a photo of Martin Luther King, Jr. and were posted on the federal holiday commemorating his birthday, something Lee said seemed appropriate.
“It’s No Coincidence I’m Writing This As We Celebrate The 30th Anniversary Of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr’s Birthday,” Lee wrote. “Dr. King Said ‘There Comes A Time When One Must Take A Position That Is Neither Safe, Nor Politic, Nor Popular But He Must Take It Because Conscience Tells Him It’s Right.’”
Lee goes on to say that while he’s often asked about the lack of African-American nominees, he thinks the “white nominees and studio heads” should be asked about the lack of diversity around the Oscar nominees for the past two years.
Lee also echoes the argument put forth by many entertainment industry insiders that it’s really up to Hollywood executives to create opportunities for and make movies starring diverse actors.
“As I See It, The Academy Awards Is Not Where The 'Real’ Battle Is. It’s In The Executive Office Of The Hollywood Studios And TV And Cable Networks,” Lee writes. “This Is Where The Gate Keepers Decide What Gets Made And What Gets Jettisoned To 'Turnaround’ Or Scrap Heap. This Is What’s Important. The Gate Keepers. Those With 'The Green Light’ Vote. As The Great Actor Leslie Odom Jr. Sings And Dances In The Game Changing Broadway Musical HAMILTON, 'I WANNA BE IN THE ROOM WHERE IT HAPPENS.’ People, The Truth Is We Ain’t In Those Rooms And Until Minorities Are, The Oscar Nominees Will Remain Lilly White.”
Related: Spike Lee: Getting a Black President Is Easier Than a Black Studio Head
Lee’s film Chi-Raq was among those that failed to earn any Oscar nominations. Diverse actors considered likely nominees but were left out of the Oscars’ list included Will Smith (Concussion), Idris Elba (Beasts of No Nation), Benicio del Toro (Sicario), Michael B. Jordan (Creed) and Samuel L. Jackson (The Hateful Eight).
Both Creed and NWA biopic Straight Outta Compton only received one Oscar nomination each, honors that went to white people involved with those films.
Smith’s wife, Jada Pinkett-Smith, earlier this weekend suggested a potential boycott of the Oscars by people of color in light of the lack of diversity among nominees.
