Oscars: Lupita Nyong'o 'Disappointed' With Lack of Diversity
by Jennifer Konerman, The Hollywood Reporter
Lupita Nyong'o has joined the #OscarsSoWhite discussion, saying that she is “disappointed by the lack of inclusion” and that she stands with her “peers who are calling for change.”
Nyong'o, who was nominated for an Oscar in 2013 for her role in 12 Years a Slave, posted on Instagram Tuesday night a statement of support and solidarity with the actors and filmmakers speaking out about the lack of diversity of this year’s acting nominees. For the second year in a row, the acting categories completely shut out any actor of color and all four categories feature only white actors as nominees.
Related: Oscars: Spike Lee Refuses to Attend Awards Due to All-White Acting Nominees
In her Instagram post, Nyong'o says: “It has me thinking about unconscious prejudice and what merits prestige in our culture. The Awards should not dictate the terms of art in our modern society, but rather be a diverse reflection of the best of what our art has to offer today.”
The post from the actress comes the day after Cheryl Boone Isaacs, president of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, issued a statement that she is “heartbroken and frustrated about the lack of inclusion. This is a difficult but important conversation, and it’s time for big changes.”
Al Sharpton echoed the sentiment, saying that the film industry “has locked us out.” Jada Pinkett Smith, Spike Lee, and Sharpton have called for a boycott of this year’s awards show that is quickly gaining momentum.
Related: #OscarsSoWhite Creator Endorses Oscar Boycott
Read Nyong'o’s Instagram post below.
The lowdown on the calls for an Oscar boycott:
