*Several conservatives are outraged over the Oscars’ inclusivity rules — specifically the new change for Best Picture contenders.
As we reported previously, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced an initiative in 2020 that outlines significant requirements to be eligible for Best Picture at the Oscars. For a film to be considered in this category, the lead or supporting actor role must be played by an “Asian, Hispanic/Latinx, Black/African American, Indigenous/Native American/Alaskan Native, Middle Eastern/North African, Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander or unspecified other underrepresented race or ethnicity,” per Deadline.
According to the new guidelines, the crew must also be inclusive of women, LGBTQ+, BIPOC, and people with cognitive or physical disabilities.
The New York Post ran a story about some Academy voters being outraged over the new rules. Several right-wing personalities accuse the Academy of going “woke.”
As TMZ reports, conservative figure Darren Grimes wrote … “So it’s no longer Best Picture then. It’s now the film that appeases diversity tsars the most that wins. Award ceremonies are meaningless, Hollywood has slaughtered them on the altar of woke.” Clearly, he isn’t on board.
Conservative activist and radio talk show host Charlie Kirk commented … “Under new rules for the Academy Awards, no film can win Best Picture unless it hits arbitrary diversity quotas. Under this rule, The Godfather, Lord of the Rings, or Saving Private Ryan would all be ineligible. This is what they mean by ‘diversity’ but it’s the opposite of diversity. They want a uniform, politically correct monoculture devoid of any creativity or free expression.”
When asked about the Oscars shake-up on PBS’ “Firing Line,” Hollywood veteran Richard Dreyfuss said, “They make me vomit.”
“This is an art form. It’s also a form of commerce, and it makes money, but it’s an art. No one should be telling me as an artist that I have to give in to the latest, most current idea of what morality is,” Dreyfuss continued, Deadline reports.
“Starting in 2024, films will be required to meet new inclusion standards to be eligible for the Academy Awards for Best Picture. They’ll have to have a certain percentage of actors or crew from under-represented racial or ethnic groups,” “Firing Line” host Margaret Hoover said to Dreyfuss. He added, “And what are we risking? Are we really risking hurting people’s feelings? You can’t legislate that. And you have to let life be life.”
Dreyfuss noted that “there’s a minority or a majority in the country that has to be catered to like that.”
He continued, “Am I being told that I will never have a chance to play a Black man?” Dreyfuss continued. “Is someone else being told that if they’re not Jewish, they shouldn’t play the ‘Merchant of Venice?’ Are we crazy? Do we not know that art is art?”
READ MORE: Richard Dreyfuss Slams ‘Woke’ Diversity Rules for Oscars
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