The lack of diversity in the Academy Award nominations has set off a wave of different responses across Hollywood. Some have made the decision not to attend the awards show due to the lack of nominations for black actors. Now, at least one of the white actors who did receive a nomination is considering staying home as a show of support.

Mark Ruffalo, nominated for Best Supporting Actor for “Spotlight”, made it clear in a recent interview that the issues that he believes the Academy has with diversity are actually part of a much larger problem within American culture. He told the BBC that he may not attend the awards show because he feels showing support for the issue is important. 

All twenty of the nominees for acting awards across the four main Oscar categories for performance are white. This is the second year in a row where that has been the case. This has led to some very vocal criticism from different corners of Hollywood. Jada Pinkett Smith has called for people of color to boycott the awards, and her husband, Will Smith, confirmed that he is boycotting the Oscars this year. Spike Lee, who received an honorary Oscar from the Academy in November, and was most certainly going to be recognised during the ceremony, has made it clear he will not be attending, though he has stopped short of asking others to follow suit. 

Ruffalo qualifies as a voting member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences, as has been nominated for the award in the past. His response is a very different one from other members of the Academy who recently came forward to dispute any accusations of racism made against them. Many have stated that they did, in fact, attempt to nominate black actors, and that the competitive nature of the nominations is what kept these nominees out.

The 88th Academy Awards ceremony will take place on February 28 at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood, California. 

Source: Cinemablend