The Oscars are struggling to find big-name black celebrities to present awards at this year’s Academy Awards.
According to Page Six, the Academy is scrambling across Hollywood to recruit big name black presenters for the Oscars. “The Oscars are looking for a black celebrity to give out the Best Picture award,” one source said of the buzz out in Hollywood. The insider added, “Names they are talking about include Oprah Winfrey and Morgan Freeman.”
According to the report, another name on the Academy’s list was Will Smith. But, after the actor revealed that he was going to boycott the Oscars, producers are still looking for his replacement.“We’re uncomfortable to stand there and say that this is OK,” Smith told Robin Roberts, before joking, “My wife’s not going. It would be awkward to show up with Charlize [Theron].”
Several other black celebrities including Quincy Jones, Common and Pharrell Williams were approached to present the awards. However, Quincy Jones revealed that he would do it under one condition: “I’m going to ask [them] to let me speak for five minutes on the lack of diversity. If not, I’m not going to [present].”
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences responded to the backlash on Friday, announcing a major overhaul of its membership policy.The organization’s board voted unanimously to make the voting “significantly” diverse, with the goal to double the number of women and diverse members by 2020.
