Oscars under fire as top nominations branded ‘too white and male’
Academy comes under fire for lack of diversity among nominees
The Oscars are once again causing controversy for a lack of diversity among nominees, in a near-repeat of the 2015 #OscarsSoWhite backlash.
Only one person of colour has this year been nominated in an acting category, while just one non-white director was selected for the best director list.
The British actress and singer Cynthia Erivo was selected in the best supporting actress category, for her role as Harriet Tubman in biographical drama Harriet. Meanwhile, South Korean director Bong Joon-ho was nominated for best director for his black comedy thriller Parasite.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Sky News reports that this years’ nominees are “the least diverse line-up since the #OscarsSoWhite backlash... after which the film academy diversified their membership”. CNN adds that “the fact those efforts produced modest results this year… should produce some soul-searching, not just regarding the organisation, but the nature of the industry itself”.
Esquire echoed this, noting that “the Academy seems to have a blind spot when it comes to diverse films”. Edtior of Hollywood-focused news site Deadline, Dino-Ray Ramos, writes that the nominations are “basically #OscarsSo WhitePart 2:#OscarsSoWhiterAndWithMoreMen, a sequel to the hashtag originated in 2015 by April Reign for the lack of diverse nominees”.
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––For more culture features - and a concise, refreshing and balanced take on what really matters - try The Week magazine. Start your trial subscription today –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
The BBC reports that the Oscars are also “sure to receive some censure for announcing another all-male line-up in its best director category”, after Greta Gerwig, nominated for best director in 2018 for Lady Bird, failed to make the cut with Little Women.
In a clear reference to the all-male selections, actress Issa Rae, who announced the categories with actor John Cho, said: “Congratulations to those men.”
The Oscars nominations come just days after a similar backlash against the BAFTA nods, which saw all-white acting categories and no women making the cut for best director.
The Brits also came under fire for a lack of diversity last week, after just one British female artist was nominated across 25 available catagories. The list caused The Guardian to note: “This year's male-dominated Brit awards have an issue with women.”
In the nominations for this year's Academy Awards, controversial drama Joker leads the pack with 11 nods. The Irishman, 1917 and Once Upon a Time in Hollywood follow with 10 nominations each.
The Oscar winners will be announced at a ceremony in Los Angeles on 9 February.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
7 beautiful towns to visit in Switzerland during the holidays
The Week Recommends Find bliss in these charming Swiss locales that blend the traditional with the modern
By Catherine Garcia, The Week US Published
-
The Week contest: Werewolf bill
Puzzles and Quizzes
By The Week US Published
-
'This needs to be a bigger deal'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
By Justin Klawans, The Week US Published
-
Has the Taliban banned women from speaking?
Today's Big Question 'Rambling' message about 'bizarre' restriction joins series of recent decrees that amount to silencing of Afghanistan's women
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
Cuba's energy crisis
The Explainer Already beset by a host of issues, the island nation is struggling with nationwide blackouts
By Rebekah Evans, The Week UK Published
-
Putin's fixation with shamans
Under the Radar Secretive Russian leader, said to be fascinated with occult and pagan rituals, allegedly asked for blessing over nuclear weapons
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
Chimpanzees are dying of human diseases
Under the radar Great apes are vulnerable to human pathogens thanks to genetic similarity, increased contact and no immunity
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
Deaths of Jesse Baird and Luke Davies hang over Sydney's Mardi Gras
The Explainer Police officer, the former partner of TV presenter victim, charged with two counts of murder after turning himself in
By Austin Chen, The Week UK Published
-
Quiz of The Week: 24 February - 1 March
Puzzles and Quizzes Have you been paying attention to The Week's news?
By Sorcha Bradley, The Week UK Published
-
Will mounting discontent affect Iran election?
Today's Big Question Low turnout is expected in poll seen as crucial test for Tehran's leadership
By Sorcha Bradley, The Week UK Published
-
Sweden clears final NATO hurdle with Hungary vote
Speed Read Hungary's parliament overwhelmingly approved Sweden's accession to NATO
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published