President Obama Discusses Oscars Diversity Scandal

The #OscarsSoWhite controversy has garnered comment far and wide - and now the President of the United States himself has spoken out on the matter.

Asked for his thoughts on the scandal by ABC News whilst in California, President Obama voiced support for those pushing for greater diversity in the Academy award nominees.

Obama said, “I think that California is an example of the incredible diversity of this country. That’s a strength.

“I think that when everyone’s story is told then that makes for better art. It makes for better entertainment. It makes everybody feel part of one American family.

“So I think as a whole the industry should do what every other industry should do which is to look for talent, provide opportunity to everybody.

“I think the Oscar debate is really just an expression of this broader issue. Are we making sure that everybody is getting a fair shot?”

Democrat Presidential candidate Hilary Clinton also addressed the matter recently, telling AOL, “Just think of the great films that not only display the diversity of America, but the diversity of the human experience… The Academy has to catch up with our reality.”

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced on Friday that new measures were being introduced to promote diversity among voting Academy members - including the phasing out of voting rights for members no longer active in the film industry.

While this has been welcomed by many, some long-standing Academy members are unhappy with these measures. One long-standing member, former producer David Kirkpatrick, tells the Academy in an open letter that “we don’t change the world by exchanging purported racism with ageism.”

The 2016 Oscars take place in Los Angeles on 28 February, hosted by Chris Rock.

Picture Credit: WENN

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