Lee Daniels has criticised for the creators and supporters of the #OscarsSoWhite movement in an interview with The New York Times.
Built to raise awareness for Hollywood’s brass-necked exclusion of actors of colours from its pictures, the movement has been praised for inspiring the minds behind the BAFTAs and Oscars to acknowledge the problem.
Alas, the groundbreaking Daniels believes that the absence of nuanced characters of colour in Hollywood has little to do with the discrimination the business itself acknowledges exists.
His advice to actors?
“Stop complaining.”
The ‘Empire‘ creator told the ‘Times’:
Go out and do the work. Oscars so white! So what? Do your work. Let your legacy speak and stop complaining, man. Are we really in this for the awards?”
If I had thought that way — that the world was against me — I wouldn’t be here now,” he continues. “These whiny people that think we’re owed something are incomprehensible and reprehensible to me. I don’t expect acknowledgment or acceptance from white America. I’m going to be me.
Fans of the actress Viola Davis will know that she feels differently.
Press play to catch her stance on the matter below…