Joaquin Phoenix impressed at the Baftas on Sunday night, winning the best actor award and using his speech to call out the lack of diversity among the nominees.
On stage at the Royal Albert hall, the Joker star said:
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 colour that you’re not welcome here. 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.
He went on to add:
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.
The Oscar favourite concluded:
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.
Joaquin Phoenix accepts his Leading Actor award for his performance in @jokermovie #EEBAFTAs #BAFTAs https://t.co/1nK49CjrJo— BAFTA (@BAFTA) 1580683060
Many were impressed, including the filmmaker behind The Farewell:
An uncomfortable silence filled the hall for a long noticeable moment. Thank you Joaquin.— Lulu Wang (@Lulu Wang) 1580678103
Ooh..Best Actor winner Joaquim Phoenix gets POLITICAL. ‘BAFTA is sending a message that people of colour aren’t we… https://t.co/ezhTFESLn8— Carole Cadwalladr (@Carole Cadwalladr) 1580677612
Correct me if I’m wrong but this is the first time... In a long time... I see a white man uses the stage he’s given… https://t.co/zLfR3XK4qa— Alma Har'el🌪 עלמה (@Alma Har'el🌪 עלמה) 1580692478
But some felt it was a win-win situation for the actor.
I feel like, once he realized that Oscar win is inevitable, Phoenix decided to commit to turning his obvious distas… https://t.co/RVVfpQKl68— Kayleigh Donaldson (@Kayleigh Donaldson) 1580679879
There were also naysayers, which is perhaps more surprising.
That's cute but what has he done about it https://t.co/fKuO2xa0Aj— g 🐩 (@g 🐩) 1580678025
So is he actually amplifying POC in the work he does or will do in the future? Or is this just to ensure his Oscar… https://t.co/PZnGNeTukQ— Eternals #1 stan (@Eternals #1 stan) 1580679859
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