The Motion Picture Academy, “heartbroken” as more and more celebrities threaten to boycott this year’s awards ceremony to protest the unbearable whiteness of the nominees, is moving quickly to silence its critics. And by quickly, we mean really quickly. The Academy’s board of directors met Thursday night and voted on several new initiatives it hopes will double the number of women and diverse members of the Academy by 2020.
“The Academy is going to lead and not wait for the industry to catch up” https://t.co/vkYBJOUm3l
— New York Post (@nypost) January 23, 2016
After criticism over Oscar nominations, the Academy sets a goal to become less male and less white https://t.co/nD9yqj7bzS
— The New York Times (@nytimes) January 23, 2016
We’re making changes. New Academy membership and voting diversity initiatives announced today. https://t.co/Arna4YvgY1
— The Academy (@TheAcademy) January 22, 2016
First, the Academy realized its policy of “voting membership for life” left it with a lot of old, white fat that couldn’t be trimmed. Newly inducted members will be given a 10-year term, which is renewable if considerations are met. The board also added three new term-limited governor seats “in order to immediately increase diversity on the Board of Governors.”
The Academy has also launched a mysterious but “ambitious global campaign to identify and recruit qualified new members who represent greater diversity.”
@TheAcademy I guess just throw merit out the window like the rest of this country has, apparently it comes down to race only
— Jive Soul Bro (@PessPatriot) January 23, 2016
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@TheAcademy sad day when someone doesn't win so we have to change the rules so they can.#oscars #childishbehavior
— Tracy Ratliff (@TrayAnnr2d2) January 23, 2016
@TheAcademy Best Male/Female roles doesn't reflect today's gender choices, in my opinion.
— Ben Mack (@BenMack) January 23, 2016
https://twitter.com/StephCullen/status/690832784206598144
https://twitter.com/nclsrfn/status/690840523658137600
@TheAcademy So sad the Oscars have become participation trophies.
— TresRice (@TresRice) January 23, 2016
@TheAcademy so does that mean the BET awards are going to be diverse too? #justsaying
— Julian (@JGars22) January 23, 2016
@TheAcademy not enough. Won't help for a decade or two… #BoycottOscars
— stephen power (@stevepower) January 23, 2016
@TheAcademy nice going on cheapening the achievement of getting an oscar. Now just another affirmative action award.
— Angel Rider (@AngelBleauEyes) January 23, 2016
@TheAcademy Good start but let's face the facts, talk is cheap, don't say something u truly don't mean or support, action speaks volumes.
— Schnese / Haka´ ???? (@EarthAngel4Love) January 23, 2016
https://twitter.com/spencer_bott/status/690954823403905024
No one has ever made a mistake thinking the politics of The Academy were more than surface deep.
— David Poland (@DavidPoland) January 23, 2016
The Academy should really focus on making sure Robert DeNiro stops saying yes to every movie.
— Justin Root (@JustinWRoot) January 23, 2016
https://twitter.com/RobSchneider/status/690680045631700992
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