#OscarsSoWhite Creator Skeptical of Academy Diversity Push

Now that Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences president Cheryl Boone Isaacs has promised “big changes” to bring more diversity to the group that dispenses the Oscars, many Academy members have told TheWrap they applaud her comments.

But not everyone believes Boone Isaacs has the power to make a real difference.

“She is fighting an uphill battle,” April Reign, creator of the Twitter hashtag #OscarsSoWhite, told TheWrap. “She is one person and she may be battling against an Academy that we know is 94 percent white, that is over 70 percent male and has an average age of 63.”

Also Read: Oscars 'Heartbroken' Over Lack of Diversity, Academy Pledges 'Big Changes'

Reign was referring to a 2012 study conducted by the Los Angeles Times that pointed out the acute lack of diversity among Oscar voters. Reign, a former attorney and current managing editor of BroadwayBlack.com, said she started using the hashtag #OscarsSoWhite to express her dismay with the Academy’s status quo.

“The hashtag of #OscarsSoWhite was borne out of my disappointment and frustration with the lack of inclusion in the nominees for the 2015 Oscars and unfortunately, the hashtag has seen a resurgence this year,” she explained.

After last year’s Oscars diversity backlash, Boone Isaacs invited 322 new members to join the Academy, including “Selma” star David Oyelowo, “Ride Along” actor Kevin Hart, “Slumdog Millionaire” actor Dev Patel and “The Best Man Holiday” director Malcolm D. Lee.

Also Read: Whoopi Goldberg Rips Oscars for Lack of Diversity: 'It Pisses Me Off' (Video)

But as Reign and countless others have pointed out, the problem goes much deeper than the Academy’s 6,261 voting members.

“It’s not just an issue with the Academy itself, but the lack of quality roles for people of color, for people from the LGBTQ community, for indigenous people, for differently-abled people and so on,” Reign said.

“The concern is that when studios greenlight films, that they are not thinking outside of their own comfort zone, not only with respect to who we see on the screen… but also behind the film — directors, screenwriters and cinematographers of color also being given the opportunity to tell these stories,” Reign said.

Also Read: Michael Moore 'Happy to Join' Oscars Boycott (Exclusive)

Over the past few days, Spike Lee, Jada Pinkett Smith, Don Cheadle, “Straight Outta Compton” producer Will Packer, actress Whoopi Goldberg and director Michael Moore have all expressed concerns about the lack of diversity among this year’s acting nominees.

In Reign’s opinion, the growing list of Hollywood insiders joining the discussion is proof that the movie industry must change.

“It’s a concern that doesn’t just affect black people, but affects everyone because we all should want to see diversity and inclusion and stories that make us think, stories that make us laugh and feel, and those are not particular to a specific race,” she said.

Also Read: 'Fresh Prince of Bel-Air' Actress Janet Hubert Slams Jada Pinkett Smith Over Oscars Boycott

Reign suggested that the lack of diversity starts with studio heads, who are overwhelmingly Caucasian and male.

“Great movies like ‘The Martian,’ in which Matt Damon did a great job, we question whether Jamie Foxx could have played that role, or Javier Bardem or any number of other actors in the same role,” she said.

Despite her concerns, Reign insists she’s not giving up on Hollywood, just on this year’s Oscars telecast: “I didn’t watch last year and I won’t be watching this year. There’s no reason for me to watch.”

Who's Boycotting Oscars So Far - And Who's Just Mad (Photos)

Spike Lee

The director has refused to attend this year's Academy Awards because no people of color were nominated. "How is it possible for the 2nd consecutive year all 20 contenders under the actor category are white? And let’s not even get into the other branches. 40 white actors in 2 years and no flava at all. We can’t act?! WTF!!” he tweeted.
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Jada Pinkett Smith

The actress -- whose husband, Will Smith, was snubbed for Best Actor for "Concussion" -- pondered on social media whether people of color should participate in the Oscars at all. “At the Oscars, people of color are always welcomed to give out awards, even entertain, but we are rarely recognized for our artistic accomplishments.
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Will Smith

The actor announced that he will not be attending this year’s Oscars ceremony in support of the boycott proposed by wife Jada Pinkett Smith.

"At this current time, we’re uncomfortable to stand there and say, ‘This is OK,'" he said.
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David Oyelowo

The actor, while presenting a King Legacy Award to Academy president Cheryl Boone Isaacs, pointed out that this is the second year in a row the Academy has failed to nominate a single non-white actor. "For 20 opportunities to celebrate actors of color, actresses of color, to be missed last year is one thing; for that to happen again this year is unforgivable.”
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Michael Moore

The filmmaker told TheWrap that he plans to join the boycott, and said "I thought about this all day, and I don’t plan to go to the show, I don’t plan to watch it and I don’t plan to go to an Oscar party."
Will Packer

The "Straight Outta Compton" producer called the situation "embarrassing" in a lengthy social media post. “To my Academy colleagues, WE HAVE TO DO BETTER. Period."
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Chris Rock

The actor-director, who will host the Academy Awards on February 28, made light of the controversy. He tweeted a new Oscars promo along with the caption “The #Oscars. The White BET Awards.”
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Tyrese Gibson

The “Furious 7” star called on Academy Awards host Chris Rock to pull out of the ceremony after no people of color were nominated in its 20 acting categories. He also went into more detail on social media, saying if the situation involved the under-representation of LGBT nominees, there is no question things would be different.
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Don Cheadle

The actor joined the discussion Sunday by tweeting at Chris Rock, saying he’ll be “parking cars” at the Hollywood & Highland complex the night of the ceremony.
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Whoopi Goldberg

"The View" host tore into the lack of diversity during Tuesday's episode: “We have this conversation every year and it pisses me off."
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BET Founder Bob Johnson

Johnson didn't just blame Oscar voters for the lack of diversity among this year's nominees, he told TheWrap studios must greenlight more diverse projects. He also implored African Americans to tell their own stories rather than depend on the Hollywood establishment.

"If you’re the African-American society and you wait for white America to say ‘I’m gonna tell your stories,’ first of all, they don’t know them or appreciate them, and second of all, that is not in their DNA,” he said.
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Mark Ruffalo

The "Hulk" actor told BBC Breakfast that he is "weighing" taking part in the Oscar boycott, stating that "the entire American system is rife with white privilege racism. It goes into our justice system.” He later took to Twitter to clarify his statements, in which he said that he will be attending the awards "in support of the victims of clergy Sexual Abuse and good journalism."
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Earl Ofari Hutchinson

Los Angeles Urban Policy Roundtable President Earl Ofari Hutchinson said his organization will "launch a nationwide 'TV Tune Out' of the Oscars ceremony, February 28. This will send the message that diversity in the film industry must be more than a hollow promise."
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Al Sharpton’s National Action Network

Al Sharpton’s civil rights organization is calling for a boycott of this year’s Oscars. “The lack of African Americans and women excluded from the major categories of Oscar nominees is appalling,” the chapter’s political director, Najee Ali said in a statement. “Cheryl Boone Issacs, the African-American president of the academy, is nothing but a pawn, and the black face of Hollywood’s system and culture that is racist, sexist and lacks true diversity.”
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