For many people watching the Oscars at base , the main reasonableness to line in tonight was to see what Chris Rock would do with his opening monologue . And the legendary stand - up comedian did not disappoint .
" I ’m here at the Academy Awards , otherwise known as the White People ’s Choice Awards , " joked Rock early on in his scathing soliloquy , in front of the crowd assembled at the Dolby Theatre . " You realize if they nominated host , I would n’t get this job . You ’d be follow Neil Patrick Harris aright now . "
And he did n’t barricade there , put this year ’s variety contestation into a larger setting of Hollywood racism . " You ’re bloody right Hollywood is racist , " he say . " Hollywood is sorority racialist . It ’s like , ' We like you Rhonda , but you ’re not a Kappa . ' "
Kevin Winter/Getty Images
Rock ’s soliloquy was a uproarious , cathartic moment for anyone who has adopt the ongoing # OscarsSoWhite argument over the last duo of years . To put his iconic soliloquy in setting , here ’s a bite of history that lead up to this scorch lecture .
This is bigger than just this year
As Rock recognize in his monologue , the Academy ’s diverseness issue is contemplative of larger structural problems that have plagued Hollywood – and American lodge – for ages .
However , the unfavorable judgment became a particularly common point of the conversation about the Oscars in 2015 when the nominees for last years awards were announced and favorites likeSelmadirector Ava Duvernay and ace David Oyelowo were not included . Writer April Reign created the # OscarsSoWhite hashtag to express her literary criticism of the Academy and quick the hashtag quickly became a rallying cry for anyone dun by the lack of nonage performers and filmmakers being respect .
" There was no way of life for me to know that a individual tweet that I made from my family room in January of 2015 would have the impact that it has , " said Reign inan interviewwithNPRearlier this year . " And I ’m not sure that anyone ever really have sex what hashtag is going to become viral until it does . "
Selma | Paramount Pictures
Then this year’s nominees carried on the trend
After the criticisms of last year ’s prize , many hoped that this year ’s nominees would provide a dissimilar narrative , but that was n’t the case . Though director Alejandro González Iñárritu was again nominated for Best Director , the acting family were once again fill with all white actor , leave acclaimed performances from Idris Elba , Michael B. Jordan , Benico Del Torro , Samuel L. Jackson , Mya Taylor , Tessa Thompson , and Teyonah Parris off the ballot this yr .
Similarly , two commercially successful and well - reviewed films from African - American theatre director with primarily African - American cast , CreedandStraight Outta Compton , were passed over for Best Picture nominations and instead only received nods for clean performers and writer . clear , something was wrong .
Boycotts were announced
Once the nominees were out , the reactions come quickly . On January 18,Magic Mike XXLstar Jada Pinkett Smith , who Rock laugh at in his soliloquy , announced in a Facebook video that she would be boycott the ceremony this year . Her husband Will Smith also say he would not be attending , while director Spike Lee supported the boycott in anInstragrampost . British Isaac M. Singer Anohni , who is nominated for her Best Original Song for " Manta Ray " from the documentaryRacing extermination , also denote that shewould not be attendingthe ceremony .
At the same time , Selmadirector andCreeddirector Ryan Coogler denote they would be hostinga benefitin Flint , Michigan , the night of the Oscars . The event will also have performances from Hannibal Buress , Janelle Monae and Jesse Williams .
Rock touched on these boycott in his monologue , putting the boycotts in a declamatory historical competition . " Black hoi polloi did n’t protest , because we had real thing to protest at the time , " he allege about the early eras . " We were too busy being knap and lynch to deal about who succeed best cameraman . When you ’re hang from a tree , it ’s really backbreaking to handle about good documentary film short . "
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The Academy has made moves to correct the problem
In an effort to correct the problem , the Academy has attempt to make the voting body that chooses the nominees more various . There wereemergency meetingsto deal with the trouble .
They before long revealed dramatic some change , increasing the amount of young and diverse voters . " The Academy is go to lead and not expect for the industriousness to catch up , " state Cheryl Boone Isaacs , chairperson of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciencesin a statement . " These new measures regarding governance and voting will have an immediate shock and get down the outgrowth of significantly alter our membership composition . "
As Rock note in his monologue , the whole conversation is actually middling dim-witted in its goal . " We desire chance , " Rock concluded . " We want ignominious actor to get the same opportunities . “Sign up herefor our everyday Thrillist electronic mail , and get your pickle of the best in food / boozing / playfulness .
Dan Jacksonis a staff author at Thrillist Entertainment and thinks Chris Rock did a great chore last time too . He ’s on Twitter:@danielvjackson .
