Page 29 - Aruba Today

PEOPLE & ARTS A29
Wednesday 20 January 2016

Calls for boycott over diversity throw Oscars into turmoil

JAKE COYLE nounced they will boycott Comedian Chris Rock speaks during an event celebrating the life and legacy of the Rev. Martin
AP Film Writer the ceremony in protest. Luther King Jr. at the Riverside Church in New York. Rock, who is scheduled to host the Oscars
NEW YORK (AP) — Grow- Academy president Cher- Feb. 28, has unveiled a new promotion for the broadcast, calling the ceremony “The White BET
ing calls for a boycott of yl Boone Isaacs, who has Awards.”
the Academy Awards over led efforts to diversify the
the lack of diversity among academy, responded late (AP Photo/Andres Kudacki)
this year’s Oscar nominees Monday evening with a
are forcing stars to choose forceful statement saying Oyelowo said. ing in. George Clooney, in that movies like “Creed,”
sides and threatening to that those previous mea- “I am an academy mem- comments to Variety, said ‘’Straight Outta Compton,”
throw the movie industry’s sures weren’t enough. ber and it doesn’t reflect that after earlier progress ‘’Beasts of No Nation” and
biggest night of the year Isaacs, the academy’s first me and it doesn’t reflect by the industry, “you feel “Concussion” may have
into turmoil. African American presi- this nation.” like we’re moving in the deserved more attention
The backlash over the sec- dent, said that “it’s time Other stars began weigh- wrong direction.” He noted from the academy.q
ond straight year of all- for big changes” and that
white acting nominees is she will review membership
also putting heavy pressure recruiting to bring about
on the Academy of Motion “much-need diversity” in
Pictures Arts and Sciences the academy’s ranks.
to diversify its overwhelm- At a Los Angeles gala
ingly white male member- honoring Boone Isaacs on
ship. Monday night, actor Da-
The furor grew on Tuesday vid Oyelowo — who was
when the Rev. famously snubbed last year
Al Sharpton said he would for his performance as the
lead a campaign encour- Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.
aging people not to watch in “Selma” — expressed
the Feb. 28 telecast. On frustration with the acad-
Monday, Spike Lee, this emy.
year’s Oscar honoree for “This institution doesn’t re-
lifetime achievement, and flect its president and it
Jada Pinkett Smith an- doesn’t reflect this room,”