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PEOPLE & ARTS A29
Wednesday 27 January 2016
In Oscars crisis, Chris Rock and a microphone loom large
JAKE COYLE race smack dab in the mid- ing a new show.” Suspect,” was about be- critical and sanguine about
AP Film Writer dle of a storm that could “And, yes, the academy is ing presumed guilty of any what he called “a white in-
NEW YORK (AP) — When hardly suit anyone bet- ready for him to do that,” crime because of his skin dustry.”
Chris Rock first hosted the ter. It’s safe to say that no Hudlin said. “They’re excit- color. One of his most divi- “Just as the NBA is a black
Oscars in 2005, the four Academy Awards opening ed about him doing that.” sive routines was when he industry,” he wrote. “I’m
black actors nominated monologue has ever been But Rock’s publicist, Leslie drew a contrast between not even saying it’s a bad
that year — Morgan Free- more anticipated. The Sloane, on Monday shot “black people” and “n---- thing. It just is.”
man, Don Cheadle, Sophie spotlight on Oscar night will down Hudlin’s remarks, --” in his special “Bring the He continued: “They don’t
Okonedo and Jamie Foxx be trained on no one — not saying the comedian “has Pain.” really hire black men. A
(twice!) — didn’t escape Leonardo DiCaprio or Jen- made no decisions about In 2014, as he was releasing black man with bass in his
his notice. nifer Lawrence — like it is on the content of the show.” his last movie, “Top Five,” voice and maybe a little
“It’s like the Def Oscar Rock. The point was clear: No one which he wrote and di- hint of facial hair? Not go-
Jam!” Rock exclaimed. “This could be a defining is going to speak for Rock rected, Rock turned to Hol- ing to happen. It is what it
The story will be slightly dif- moment for Chris Rock,” except Rock himself. “All lywood in a widely hailed is. I’m a guy who’s accept-
ferent this time around. Cheadle told The Associat- will be revealed on Febru- essay in which he was both ed it all. q
When Rock strides onto the ed Press. “And I hope it is.” ary 28th,” said Sloane, omi-
Chris Rock appears onstage at the Beacon Theatre in New York. When Rock first hosted the Oscars
in 2005, four black actors were nominated that evening. When Rock strides onto the Dolby Theatre
stage on Feb. 28, 2016, he’ll see no nominated African-American actors before him.
(Charles Sykes/Invision/AP)
Dolby Theatre stage on Cheadle is far from alone. nously.
Feb. 28, he’ll see no nomi- In the turmoil that has en- His silence hasn’t stopped
nated African-American veloped the Academy others from chiming in. R&B
actors before him. He’ll Awards since a second singer Tyrese Gibson and
instead be greeted by a straight year of white nomi- rapper 50 Cent have said
Hollywood beset by a cri- nees filled the acting cate- Rock should step down.
sis over diversity that has gories, everyone from Spike Golden Globes host Ricky
led to calls for a boycott Lee to George Clooney has Gervais encouraged Rock
of the broadcast, spurred had their say on the issue. to start the show “in a KKK
the Academy of Motion But despite constant clam- hood, then whip it off &
Pictures Arts and Sciences oring — and TMZ cam- say, ‘Sorry, it’s the only way
to rewrite its membership eras chasing him outside I could get in.’”
bylaws and even sparked a comedy club over the Whoopi Goldberg has de-
pleas for Rock, himself, to weekend — Rock has been fended him: “Boycotting
pull out. mum. Other than a tweet doesn’t work and it’s also
In the ongoing fallout, Rock in which he unveiled his first a slap in the face of Chris
has loomed on the horizon promo for the show —and Rock,” she said. And Ar-
like Judgment Day. But it’s referred to the Oscars as senio Hall, who helped give
unclear just what awaits “the White BET Awards” — Rock his start, said: “It’s so
the academy and Holly- he has stayed quiet amid important that he’s on the
wood come show time. A uproar all around him. mic that night.”
reckoning? A catharsis? Reginald Hudlin, who’s As one of the top stand-ups
Awkward fits of laughter? co-producing this year’s in the country, the 50-year-
Probably all of the above. broadcast, sought to as- old Rock has long weaved
What is certain is that a sure viewers, telling “Enter- uncommonly frank and
confluence of events has tainmentTonight” that Rock provocative discussions
placed one of America’s is “hard at work” and that about race into his act,
most perceptive and sharp- he had thrown out prepa- movies and TV shows. His
tongued commentators on rations and was now “writ- first comedy album, “Born
