'Straight Outta Compton' Cast Knocks Academy for Oscars Snub at MTV Movie Awards
The ‘Straight Outta Compton’ cast on the red carpet (Photo by C Flanigan/WireImage)
By Elizabeth Wagmeister, Variety
The cast of Straight Outta Compton finally got their moment.
After being famously snubbed at the “all-white” Oscars, Straight Outta Compton won for best true story at the 2016 MTV Movie Awards this weekend. (The show was taped on Saturday night and aired on Sunday night.)
The ensemble film, which was only nominated for best original screenplay at the Oscars this year, was nominated for three awards at the Sunday night MTV show — true story, breakthrough performance for O’Shea Jackson Jr. and movie of the year.
Related: Ice Cube on Oscars: ‘You Can’t Boycott Something You Never Went To’
Jackson was joined by his Compton co-stars Corey Hawkins, Jason Mitchell, Aldis Hodge and Neil Brown Jr., plus original N.W.A. member DJ Yella, on stage to accept the first award. DJ Yella gave a shoutout to all of N.W.A., including the late Eazy-E who was portrayed by Mitchell in the film.
“I would just like to take a moment to thank the Academy — I mean MTV,” Mitchell said at the award show, held on the Warner Bros. backlot, and then one of his co-stars interrupted him in a clearly-planned skit that was meant to call out the Academy for their lack of recognizing Straight Outta Compton.
Thanking MTV, Mitchell added: “You’ve all been pioneers for the N.W.A.”
Jackson added, “N.W.A and Straight Outta Compton’s story really speaks to so much more than music. It really speaks to brotherhood.”
Related: ‘Straight Outta Compton’ Producer on Lack of Oscar Diversity: ‘It’s Embarrassing’
Later in the show, Will Smith was honored with the Generation Award, presented to him by Queen Latifah and Halle Berry. Smith also failed to receive a nomination at the Oscars for his performance in Concussion.
“Will is a champion for diversity,” Berry said, appearing to hold back tears. Praising Smith, she said he is “blazing a path for actors by showing that someone of any color can play any role and open any movie and can win every award and can be the biggest freakin’ movie star in the whole world.”
Straight Outta Compton lost out to Star Wars: The Force Awakens for Movie of the Year, and Daisy Ridley beat Jackson for the Breakout Performance award.
