Watch Spike Lee respond to Green Book's Oscar win, joke about his irked reaction, drink champagne
Spike Lee won his first Oscar on Sunday night, but his movie BlacKkKlansman lost Best Picture to Green Book. "This is my sixth glass — and you know why," Lee said as he walked into the backstage interview room, half-full champagne glass in hand. The second question was about whether his Best Original Screenplay win made up for the Academy's snub of his breakout film, Do The Right Thing, in 1990, the year Driving Miss Daisy won Best Picture. "I'm snakebit — I mean, every time someone's driving somebody I lose," Lee said, pulling a face then laughing. "But they changed the seating arrangement. But in '89, I didn't even get nominated, so. This one we did."
Another reporter asked Lee about Green Book's win. "Let me take another sip," he joked. "Next question!" When reminded that after Green Book was announced as Best Picture, he got up and tried to leave the theater, Lee explained, "I thought I was courtside at the Garden and the ref made a bad call," optimistically predicting that the New York Knicks will win next year. "Hailed as a tribute to racial tolerance by its makers and stars, Green Book was also widely criticized by many as an outdated, sentimentalized movie full of racial stereotypes," The Associated Press notes. Watch Lee's press conference below. Peter Weber
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.
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
Peter has worked as a news and culture writer and editor at The Week since the site's launch in 2008. He covers politics, world affairs, religion and cultural currents. His journalism career began as a copy editor at a financial newswire and has included editorial positions at The New York Times Magazine, Facts on File, and Oregon State University.
-
Quiz of The Week: 16 - 22 November
Have you been paying attention to The Week's news?
By The Week Staff Published
-
The week's best photos
In Pictures Firing shells, burning ballots, and more
By Anahi Valenzuela, The Week US Published
-
Damian Barr shares his favourite books
The Week Recommends The writer and broadcaster picks works by Alice Walker, Elif Shafak and others
By The Week UK Published
-
Quincy Jones, music icon, is dead at 91
Speed Read The legendary producer is perhaps best known as the architect behind Michael Jackson's 'Thriller'
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
OJ Simpson, star athlete tried for murder, dead at 76
Speed Read The former football hero and murder suspect lost his battle with cancer
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Momofuku's 'Chili Crunch' trademark uproar
Speed Read The company's attempt to own the sole rights has prompted backlash
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Kevin Hart awarded Mark Twain Prize
Speed Read He is the 25th recipient of the prestigious comedy prize
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Is Downton Abbey set to return for a final film?
Speed Read Imelda Staunton reveals that a third movie may be in the pipeline
By Adrienne Wyper, The Week UK Published
-
'Oppenheimer' sweeps Oscars with 7 wins
speed read The film won best picture, best director (Christopher Nolan) and best actor (Cillian Murphy)
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
'Rust' armorer convicted of manslaughter
speed read The film's cinematographer Halyna Hutchins was shot and killed by actor Alec Baldwin during rehearsal
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
The Beatles are getting 4 intersecting biopics
Speed Read Director Sam Mendes is making four separate movies, each told from the perspective of one band member
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published