Spike Lee: Oscars diversity ruckus has been vindicated

Vindicated: Spike Lee says his Oscars boycott has paid off
Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty
Jennifer Ruby17 February 2016
The Weekender

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Spike Lee has said that his decision to boycott this year’s Oscars has been vindicated.

The acclaimed director, who called out the Academy for the lack of racial diversity among this year’s nominees, is happy with the changes that have been made.

During a press conference at the Berlin Film Festival, he said: “The Academy would not have made these changes if people had kept quiet.

“The Academy Awards are not the problem; the problem is the gatekeepers at the exec levels, studios, networks and cable TV who decide what movies we’re going to make and not make,” he added.

Oscar nominations 2016

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“And the majority of these men are white males — there’s no diversity there, and that’s reflected in the movies that get voted on at the Academy Awards.

“If a ruckus had not been raised, I believe the Academy would not have made those change.”

Alongside Will and Jada Pinkett Smith, Lee was instrumental in leading the boycott of this year’s awards.

As a result, the Academy announced that it would be doubling its number of ethnic minority members and women by 2020.

The Oscars take place on February 28.

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