Diversity was the hot topic at the Oscars as host Chris Rock attacked critics with his blend of humour and stark commentary
With deft timing and an impactful blend of humour and searing commentary, host Chris Rock took the bull by the horns at the Oscars, attacking the diversity crisis roiling the industry and not letting go all night long.
“I counted at least 15 black people in that montage,” he said of the opening film clips.
He went on to call the Oscars the “White People’s Choice Awards,” and noted that if they had nominated potential hosts, “I wouldn’t have this job. You’d all be watching Neil Patrick Harris right now.”
He was referring, of course, to the fact that every acting nominee was white for the second year running, a development that led to the OscarsSoWhite backlash. It also led the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences to announce sweeping changes meant to increase diversity in its membership — changes that the academy's president, Cheryl Boone Isaacs, made reference to as she called on the industry to join in creating change.
“With opportunity comes responsibility,” Boone Isaacs said. “It’s not enough to just listen and agree. We must take action.”
Rock, in some of his lighter comments, joked about the people who’d urged him to boycott the awards show. And, this is what some of the winners said about the issue backstage, including Priyanka Chopra. “I think that art shouldn't be defined by the colour of skin. The best person for the job should get it and not because you look a certain way: that’s just a very premitive thought for me. I was cast in Quantico because I was the best person for the job and no because of what I look like or where I come from,” she said.
Alejandro G Inarritu, winner, best director, for The Revenant, quipped, “We are still dragging those prejudices and tribal thinking at this time. It seems absolutely absurd.”
First time Oscar winner, leonardo DiCaprio, best lead actor, for The Revenant commented, “I’m so proud to be working with these guys. It’s what this industry is and what it should be.”— on the fact that best director Inarritu and best cinematographer Emmanuel lubezki, are both from Mexico. Asif Kapadia, winner, best documentary, for Amy said,“If you look at the filmmakers, and the winner who just came through here, I think a genre that’s quite diverse is the documentary section. All we can do is do our bit. I’m from an Indian background, my family is Muslim, a working class background in north london, and you know, I didn’t grow up in the film business, I didn’t know anyone in the film business.
So, all I can do is do my bit. All I can say to you is to ask those questions to the white people who come up here and not just the brown people.” “This is what happens when determined women get together. This week, the Pakistani prime minister said he would change the law on honour killing of women. That is the power of film.”— Sharemeen Obaid-Chinoy, winner, best documentary short, for A Girl in the River: The Price of Forgiveness. Alicia Vikander, winner, best supporting actress, for The Danish Girl, on having Chris Rock as host said,“I thought he was great. I admire him as a big comedian and so happy he came in tonight and brought up both a lot of laughs and a lot of reality issues in the same way. I’m very happy he’s our host tonight.”
Hollywood diversity was an issue outside the Dolby Theatre as well. Before the telecast, Rev Al Sharpton addressed a group of several dozen protesters and said he would organise larger protests if diversity complaints are not addressed. “This will be the last night of an all-white Oscars,” Sharpton said. And the host made sure, even after the final award was given toSpotlight for best picture, to bring the evening back to its designated theme. “I’d like to invite everybody to the BET awards this summer,” he said before ending on a serious note, “Black lives matter.”