Maybe #OscarsSoWhite won't trend for a third year in a row. More than 600 new voting members, many of them artists of color, have been added to the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences' roster.
PAST: Critics blast lack of diversity among Oscar nominations
Credit: Jennifer Brett
Credit: Jennifer Brett
"We're proud to welcome these new members to the Academy, and know they view this as an opportunity and not just an invitation, a mission and not just a membership," said Academy president Cheryl Boone Isaacs in a statement.
Credit: Jennifer Brett
Credit: Jennifer Brett
New members include
Ice Cube
, whose "Straight Outta Compton" was among the projects and casts seen as snubbed last go-round;
Tessa Thompson
and her “Creed” co-star
Michael B. Jordan
(
Sylvester Stallone
won a best-supporting Golden Globe and was nominated for an Oscar for his role in "Creed");
Chadwick Boseman
, who portrayed
James Brown
in “Get On Up” and is set to star in a future Marvel movie, “Black Panther;”
Vivica A. Fox, Gabrielle Union, Anika Noni Rose, Damon Wayans, Jr
.,
Mahershala Ali, Anthony Anderson, Loretta Devine
and
John Boyega
.
"This class continues our long-term commitment to welcoming extraordinary talent reflective of those working in film today," Boone Isaacs said. "We encourage the larger creative community to open its doors wider, and create opportunities for anyone interested in working in this incredible and storied industry."
The lack of diversity among nominations became a main theme of this year's awards event.
Credit: Jennifer Brett
Credit: Jennifer Brett
The lack of diversity led some to urge Oscars boycotts. Actor and recording artist Tyrese Gibson said Rock should have refused to host: "There is no joke he can crack, there is no way he can seize the moment. The statement that you make is you step down."
"Compton," the powerful drama about the rap group N.W.A. was nominated for best original screenplay ("Spotlight" won) but didn't draw a best-picture nod or any best acting nominations. Ice Cube, whose son portrayed him in the film, wasn't upset.
"I was so proud of my son and so proud of us to get that movie done – I wasn't worried about no Oscars, to be honest," he said during a visit to Ellen DeGeneres' talk show . "The fans loved the movie, people loved the movie all over the world. To me that's what it was about. It wasn't about the Oscar."
Credit: Jennifer Brett
Credit: Jennifer Brett
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