Amid reports that Oscar voters feared a repeat of the #OscarsSoWhite backlash they received last year, giving due to some of the great performances by people of color this year felt like a no-brainer. But after Thursday morning’s announcement of the latest nominations—not so much.
We saw some first-time nominees as well as some repeats among the 20 actors and actresses nominated for major acting awards, but as was the case last year, every person nominated was white.
Congrats to our Supporting Actor nominees #Oscars #OscarNoms pic.twitter.com/19ZSfXwsFe
— The Academy (@TheAcademy) January 14, 2016
Congrats to our Supporting Actress nominees #Oscars #OscarNoms pic.twitter.com/Mpckoym4QR
— The Academy (@TheAcademy) January 14, 2016
Congrats to our Leading Actress nominees #Oscars #OscarNoms pic.twitter.com/jbvO8opwqC
— The Academy (@TheAcademy) January 14, 2016
Congrats to our Leading Actor nominees #Oscars #OscarNoms pic.twitter.com/P5lamJ9ixu
— The Academy (@TheAcademy) January 14, 2016
As people expected (and the Academy likely feared), the backlash was swift as people used plenty of metaphors to describe the state of the nominations. One person even made the point that all of the Best Actress nominees could easily be the same person.
What do you *mean* there’s no diversity at the Oscars? #OscarNoms #OscarsSoWhite pic.twitter.com/KJJwX1qn6g
— Mark S. Luckie (@marksluckie) January 14, 2016
https://twitter.com/Halfrican_One/status/687637316802744320
20 for 20! We did it. HUGE day for white actors. #Oscars2016
— (((Jew))) (@JoshMalina) January 14, 2016
The #Oscars this year looking a lot like a Trump rally. All White.
— Michael Skolnik (@MichaelSkolnik) January 14, 2016
https://twitter.com/MatthewACherry/status/687638125397409792
When it comes to racial & gender diversity, television is so far ahead of movies that it’s bizarre. & a lot of that is about the last 5 yrs.
— Emily Nussbaum (@emilynussbaum) January 14, 2016
https://twitter.com/rachsyme/status/687650358634610688
https://twitter.com/kendrawcandraw/status/687634107304656896
https://twitter.com/Lexialex/status/687662026097741825
As April Reign, the managing editor of BroadwayBlack.com, noted, the lack of diversity among all of the Oscar nominations (not just the acting categories) is even worse than it was last year when she started the now-viral #OscarsSoWhite hashtag. (Reign could not be reached for comment.)
A five minute opening by brilliant Chris Rock will not make up for over 80 years of erasure of marginalized communities. #OscarsSoWhite
— April (@ReignOfApril) January 14, 2016
The lack of diversity among the nominees, both in front of the camera and behind it, is a huge factor for fans and critics, especially when they felt there were plenty of worthy candidates throughout the past year. The biopic Straight Outta Compton, which received an Original Screenplay nomination, was critically acclaimed with praised performances. Idris Elba, who received a Golden Globe nomination for his role in the Netflix film Beasts of No Nation, was passed over for other actors. Will Smith, nominated for the Golden Globe for Concussion, was also snubbed.
And while Sylvester Stallone received a Best Supporting Actor nomination for reprising his role as Rocky Balboa in what some critics said was the best Rocky movie since Rocky, star Michael B. Jordan and director Ryan Coogler were both passed over. It’s their Creed, which appeared on numerous “best films of 2015” lists, that especially stung with fans.
https://twitter.com/GWillowWilson/status/687653096697147392
https://twitter.com/kibblesmith/status/687639270136360960
Idris Elba and Abraham Attah, BEASTS OF NO NATION. @michaelb4jordan, CREED. @TeyonahParris, CHI-RAQ. Will Smith, CONCUSSION. Just a few.
— Jamil Smith جميل كريم (@JamilSmith) January 14, 2016
https://twitter.com/dodaistewart/status/687644873470664704
In terms of race: For men, be mad for Ryan Coogler, Michael B. Jordan, Jason Mitchell, Idris Elba. For women: Be angry I can’t make a list.
— Mark Harris (@MarkHarrisNYC) January 14, 2016
The other issue, which came up two years ago after Jared Leto won an Oscar for Dallas Buyers Club, is when a cis actor is rewarded for portraying a transgender character instead of a transgender actor playing a transgender character.
This year Eddie Redmayne was nominated for portraying transgender pioneer Lili Elbe in The Danish Girl while Tangerine, which stars two trans women of color, was snubbed in the acting categories. Even if Redmayne ultimately loses on Oscar night, the viewers still remember.
https://twitter.com/janetmock/status/687633379815223296
https://twitter.com/ParkerMolloy/status/687635441252601856
Oscar host Chris Rock, who penned an essay in 2014 calling Hollywood a “white industry,” will almost certainly address the lack of diversity among the nominees when the awards air Feb. 28. But for those calling for more diversity among the actors and filmmakers being recognized and awarded, it likely won’t alleviate the sting of #OscarsSoWhite all that much.
https://twitter.com/MatthewACherry/status/687656756969746432
https://twitter.com/emilyyoshida/status/687645310227709953
Photo via Robert Couse-Baker/Flickr (CC BY 2.0)
