The hashtag #OscarsSoWhite has made a comeback in 2016.
Despite protests in 2015 that the Academy Awards nominations list lacked diversity, with the memorable hashtag #OscarsSoWhite, the 2016 line-up is likely to attract similar criticism, with no black directors or actors across all relevant categories.
Once again, there were no non-white nominees in any of the acting categories – Best Actor / Actress and Supporting Actor / Actress – or for the director award. This is despite well-received movies such as Creed, Concussion, Straight Outta Compton and Beasts of No Nation receiving nominations in other awards this year.
Reverend Al Sharpton led the criticism
Additionally, there were a number of highly praised individual performances from black and minority actors that were also ignored, ranging from Benicio Del Toro’s turn in Sicario to Michael B. Jordan in Creed and Will Smith in Concussion.
As you can imagine, this caused another uproar on social media, with many onlookers dismayed at the Oscars’ failure to represent non-white actors and filmmakers. Celebrities such as Jessica Goldstein and the Reverend Al Sharpton tweeted their disapproval.
More: From ‘Creed’ to ‘Concussion’ – culturally diverse suggestions for 2016 Oscar nominations
“All white Oscar nominations are another example of the lack of diversity in Hollywood. Like the Rocky Mts. The higher u climb the whiter,” wrote Sharpton shortly after the nominations were announced on Thursday. “Hollywood has a fraudulent image of progressive and liberal politics and policies. We must take direct action to correct this. Talk is cheap.”
Dear Academy,
#OscarsSoWhite? Again? In a year with CREED, STRAIGHT OUTTA COMPTON, and BEASTS OF NO NATION?
What more did you need?
— Kyle Buchanan (@kylebuchanan) January 14, 2016
Hollywood has a fraudulent image of progressive and liberal politics and policies. We must take direct action to correct this. Talk is cheap
— Reverend Al Sharpton (@TheRevAl) January 14, 2016
Last year, Cheryl Boone Isaacs, the Academy’s president, introduced a new initiative called A2020 to help remedy the problem. However, she said that the Academy couldn’t necessarily control who appeared in movies.
“The Academy has no power over Hollywood. We have nothing to do with hiring,” she said in a statement. “What we can do, however, is to get them to widen their normal stream of thought.”
Comedian Chris Rock is hosting the 2016 Oscars, which is broadcast on February 28th.