Phoenix took the time during his acceptance speech to talk about the lack of diversity at this year’s awards, calling out the systemic racism within the industry: This is what I don’t get from the whole “systematic racism” argument Phoenix is trying to lay down. If there was any year to make this complaint, and there have been quite a few this last decade, it’s not this year. People are irked that Cynthia Erivo should have gotten a BAFTA Best Actress nod for “Harriet,” but the movie was just not that good and the perfomance, although good, did not deserve to be part of the final five nominees. Then there is Lupita N’yongo’s performance in “Us,” which didn’t get nominated for either a BAFTA or an Oscar — I don’t think she deserved a nod either. If any person of color deserved a nomination this year it should have been Awkwafina’s work in “The Farewell,” I’m still dumbfounded by that snub. “But I think it’s more than just having sets that are multi-cultural,” Phoenix added. “We have to do really the hard work to truly understand systemic racism. I think it is the obligation of the people that have created and perpetuate and benefit from a system of oppression to be the ones that dismantle it. So that’s on us.” The Oscars are next Sunday and Phoenix is the frontrunner to win Best Actor, expect another politically-minded speech. Contribute Hire me
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