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PEOPLE & ARTSTuesday 19 January 2016

Calls for boycott of Oscars grow over diversity of nominees

JAKE COYLE Oscars. Noting that he was whose husband Will Smith a boycott, though not from cast, called the ceremony
AP Film Writer writing on Martin Luther wasn’t nominated for his such prominent individuals “The White BET Awards.”
NEW YORK (AP) — Calls for King Jr. Day, Lee — who performance in the NFL as Lee and Pinkett Smith. The academy didn’t re-
a boycott of the Academy in November was given head trauma drama “Con- Whether it had any impact spond to messages left
Awards are growing over an honorary Oscar at the cussion,” said it was time for or not, the audience for the Monday.
the Oscars’ second straight Governors Awards — said people of color to disregard broadcast, hosted by Neil When Oscar nominations
year of all-white acting he was fed up: “Forty white the Academy Awards. Patrick Harris, was down 16 were announced Thursday,
nominees, as Spike Lee and actors in two years and no “Begging for acknowl- percent from the year prior, Isaacs acknowledged she
Jada Pinkett Smith each flava at all,” he wrote. “We
said Monday that they will can’t act?!”
not attend this year’s cer- In a video message on
emony. Facebook, Pinkett Smith
In a lengthy Instagram also said she wouldn’t at-
post, Lee said he “cannot tend or watch the Oscars
support” the “lily white” in February. Pinkett Smith,

Jada Pinkett-Smith arrives at the Los Angeles premiere of “Magic Mike XXL” at the TCL Chinese
Theatre. Calls for a boycott of the Academy Awards are growing over the Oscars’ second straight
year of mostly white nominees, as Spike Lee and Jada Pinkett Smith each said Monday, Jan. 17,
2016, that they will not attend this year’s ceremony.

(Photo by Paul A. Hebert/Invision/AP)

edgement, or even asking, a six-year low. was “disappointed” that all
diminishes dignity and di- This year, Academy of Mo- 20 acting nominees were
minishes power,” she said. tion Pictures Arts and Sci- again white. Isaacs has
“And we are a dignified ences President Cheryl worked to diversify mem-
people and we are power- Boone Isaacs has made a bership for the academy,
ful.” point of presenting a more which a 2012 study by the
She added: “Let’s let the inclusive show. The Feb. 28 Los Angeles Times found is
academy do them, with all broadcast will be hosted by overwhelming white and
grace and love. And let’s Chris Rock and produced male.
do us differently.” The video by “Django Unchained” Many awards handicap-
had amassed 4.5 million by producer Reginald Hudlin pers expected nominations
mid-Monday afternoon. and David Hill. On Satur- for Idris Elba of “Beasts of
Last year’s all-white acting day, Rock, unveiling a new No Nation” and Benicio Del
nominees also drew calls for promotion for the broad- Toro for “Sicario.” q

Coates among finalists for book critics awards

HILLEL ITALIE environmentalist Wendell been on best-seller lists for
AP National Writer Berry is to receive a lifetime months and won the Na-
NEW YORK (AP) — Ta-Ne- achievement honor. Kirstin tional Book Award last fall
hisi Coates’ “Between the Valdez Quade’s short story for nonfiction. Groff’s novel
World and Me” and Lauren collection “Night at the Fi- about the differing per-
Groff’s “Fates and Furies” estas” won the John Leon- spectives of a marriage
are finalists for the National ard Prize for best first book was a National Book Award
Book Critics Circle prize. in any genre, and Carlos finalist for fiction and has at
New Yorker literary critic Lozada, associate editor least one famous admirer;
James Wood, memoirist and nonfiction book critic President Barack Obama
Helen McDonald and poet at The Washington Post, will called it his favorite book
Terrance Hayes also were receive a citation for excel- of 2015. Other fiction nomi-
among the 30 nominees lence in reviewing. nees included Paul Beatty’s
announced Monday. The Winners for competitive “The Sellout,” Valeria Luisel-
NBCC selected five finalists awards will be announced li’s “The Story of My Teeth,”
in each of six competitive March 17. Coates’ an- Anthony Marra’s “The
categories, ranging from guished open letter to his Tsar of Love and Techno,”
fiction to autobiography. teenage son about race and Ottessa Moshfegh’s
The poet, fiction writer and and police violence has “Eileen.”q