George Clooney On Oscars Diversity Issue: Actor Disappointed; Calls For Reform!
George Clooney has spoken out about the controversial lack of diversity in the 2016 Oscars nominees. The issue, dubbed as #OscarsSoWhite, has called into focus the fact that the awards has been nominating all-white actors for the second year in a row.
In an interview with Variety, George Clooney said that the Oscars 2016 is "moving in the wrong direction."
"If you think back 10 years ago, the Academy was doing a better job," the actor said. "Think about how many more African Americans were nominated. I would also make the argument, I don't think it's a problem of who you're picking as much as it is: How many options are available to minorities in film, particularly in quality films?"
George Clooney also mentioned the pay gap that women in movies experience, which can be comparable to the issue of having few opportunities for people of color to land roles in films.
"I think we have a lot of points we need to come to terms with. I find it amazing that we're an industry that in the 1930s, most of our leads were women." He said. "And now a woman over 40 has a very difficult time being a lead in a movie."
He also mentioned Jennifer Lawrence's and Patricia Arquette's individual movements in calling out the pay disparity in Hollywood.
"But we should have been paying attention long before this," Clooney added. "I think that African Americans have a real fair point that the industry isn't representing them well enough. I think that's absolutely true."
In light of the #OscarsSoWhite controversy, aside from George Clooney, other actors such as Jada Pinkett Smith and Spike Lee, slammed and are reportedly boycotting the 2016 Oscar Awards.
In a video released on Facebook, Jada Pinkett Smith brought into focus the Academy's ability to ignore the accomplishments of people of color in Hollywood.
"Begging for acknowledgement, or even asking, diminishes dignity and diminishes power," Smith said. "And we are a dignified people and we are powerful, and let's not forget it. So let's let the Academy do them, with all grace and love, and let's do us, differently."
