I Have Lived It: Denzel Washington On Lack Of Diversity At Oscars

Hollywood News
Updated:December 21, 2016 01:30 IST

Authors: Shaifali Bhardwaj

American actor-director-producer Denzel Washington is widely regarded as an outstanding leading man. He is the only African-American to take home two Academy Awards in the acting category. He was bestowed with the Best Actor in a Supporting Role award in 1990 for Edward Zwick’s epic war film ‘Glory’ and Best Actor in a Leading Role award in 2002 for Antoine Fuqua’s neo-noir crime thriller ‘Training Day’.

Recently, Washington shared about having experienced racism at the Oscars firsthand. “I've been the guy at the Oscars without my name being called. I've been the guy at the Oscars when my name is called. I've been the guy at the Oscars when everybody thought they were going to call my name and they didn't. So, I've lived it”, Washington stated when asked to comment upon the ongoing criticism over the lack of diversity in nominations for the Oscars.

With zero nonwhite actors nominated for Oscars in the acting categories for the second year in a row, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences is facing criticism. Thousands of people pledged to boycott watching the awards ceremony on television in the beginning of the year, reprising the Twitter hashtag #OscarSoWhite. But, the Academy Awards have also honored several nonwhite actors, musicians, directors, writers, sound mixers, producers; reportedly including more than 30 African-American artists over its past 87 ceremonies.

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