Chris Rock's 2016 Oscars Hosting Cancelled? Comedian's Alleged Lack Of Diversity The Cause?
Chris Rock's Oscars hosting stint is allegedly in danger of being cancelled.
This is due to the joke that the comedian threw that led to a controversy that's been existing for over a week now, according to Stuff.
The nominees for the 2016 Academy Awards were announced on Thursday only to reveal that the final line-up is made up of white actors and actresses nominated across the acting categories. The comic actor made a snide remark that the awards show is the "White BET Awards."
After his statement, many actors of colour expressed dismay and wished to boycott Oscars this year.
Chris Rock has only a few more weeks as the pressure intensifies with increasing calls for boycotting the awards due to lack of diversity when it comes to the nominees for Oscars 2016. Some of the stars who showed their response to the boycott call were Spike Lee and Jada Pinkett Smith, according to New York Daily News. Pinkett Smith uploaded a video where she stated that she's not attending the Academy Awards for this year.
"I don't think Chris would bail - if anything, this gives him the world's biggest platform and an excellent area for jokes that only he can do," said Dave Boone, who wrote nine Oscar telecasts as well as the head writer for the 2015 edition of the Oscars.
"Years ago when Whoopi was hosting, (scandal-scarred director Eli) Kazan was getting the lifetime achievement award," he added. "I gave her a line, 'I thought the blacklist was me and Hattie McDaniel.' At the time, it was a joke that only Whoopi could do."
For a host to drop out when the Oscars telecast is weeks near has never been done before, but Chris Rock may be the first one to do so this 2016. Eddie Murphy once dropped out as the in early November of 2011. This was due to Oscars producer Brett Ratner stepped down after an offensive tweet.
