Joaquin Phoenix calls out BAFTA awards over systemic racism

After accepting his award for best actor for the movie, Joker, he criticized the lack of diversity in the nominations among creators and performers.

“I feel conflicted because so many of my fellow actors that are deserving don’t have that same privilege. I think that we send a very clear message to people of color that you’re not welcome here,” he said. “I think that’s the message that we’re sending to people that have contributed so much to our medium and our industry, and in ways that we benefit from.”

“I don’t think anybody wants a handout or preferential treatment, although that’s what we give ourselves every year. I think people just want to be acknowledged, appreciated and respected for their work. This is not a self-righteous condemnation because I’m ashamed to say that I’m part of the problem,” Phoenix continued.

“I have not done everything in my power to ensure that the sets I work on are inclusive, but I think it’s more than just having sets that are multicultural. We have to do the hard work to truly understand systemic racism. I think it is the obligation of the people that have created and perpetuate and benefit from a system of oppression to be the ones that dismantle it. So that’s on us,” he concluded.

The discussion of the lack of diversity in the film industry has been around for a long time. The British Academy of Film and Television Arts sparked controversy last month when it was revealed that no people of colour were nominated in the four acting categories.

The Oscars also sparked the hashtag, #OscarsSoWhite over similar allegations, including the most recent, where it was criticized for its nomination list being predominantly filled with white and male actors.