The Academy responds after David Oyelowo accused them of rebuking Selma cast for wearing ‘I Can’t Breathe’ shirts in honor of Eric Garner
The Academy has responded after Selma actor David Oyelowo accused them of overlooking the 2015 Oscar-nominated movie because the cast spoke out about police brutality.
British actor Oyelowo along with Selma director Ava DuVernay accused the academy of rebuking the cast for wearing ‘I Can’t Breathe’ T-shirts to the movie’s premiere months after the killing of Eric Garner at the hands of police.
‘Ava & David, we hear you. Unacceptable. We’re committed to progress. @ava #DavidOyelowo’ The Academy tweeted on Thursday.
The Academy has responded after David Oyelowo recalled them overlooking the Selma cast when they spoke out in support of Black Lives Matter in 2014
Speaking on Screen’s Screen Talks live Q&A series this week, Oyelowo, 44, recalled the negative response the cast got for taking a stand in support of Black Lives Matter.
‘Six years ago, Selma coincided with Eric Garner being murdered. That was the last time we were in a place of ‘I Can’t Breathe” he said.
‘I remember at the premiere of Selma us wearing ‘I Can’t Breathe’ T-shirts in protest. Members of the Academy called in to the studio and our producers saying, “How dare they do that? Why are they stirring s***?” and “We are not going to vote for that film because we do not think it is their place to be doing that.”
Oyelowo accused the academy of rebuking the Selma cast for wearing ‘I Can’t Breathe’ T-shirts to the movie’s premiere in December 2014 months after the killing of Eric Garner at the hands of police
‘Committed to progress’: After David’s comments made headlines, and Selma director Ava DuVernay corroborated his claims, The Academy responded
‘It’s part of why that film didn’t get everything that people think it should’ve got and it birthed #OscarsSoWhite.’
DuVernay corroborated Oyelowo’s story, as she retweeted the Screen article and wrote: ‘True story.’
Oyelowo continued: ‘They used their privilege to deny a film on the basis of what they valued in the world.’
The ‘I Can’t Breathe’ slogan is taken from the last words Garner uttered as he was suffocated by a police officer in July 2014 while being arrested in Staten Island, New York.
True story: Oyelowo said the Oscar board members accused the cast of ‘stirring s**t’ and said they wouldn’t vote for the film
The words have seen a resurgence following the death of George Floyd last month at the hands of Minneapolis police sparking protests and riots across the country.
Selma, which is based on the 1965 Selma to Montgomery civil rights marches, experienced critical success and earned two Oscar nominations, for best picture and best original song.
The film won best original song for Glory, performed by John Legend and Common.
On Instagram on Thursday Oyelowo shared an emotional video where he talked about the George Floyd killing and how he has personally been affected by racism
On Instagram on Thursday Oyelowo shared an emotional video where he talked about the George Floyd killing and how he and his family have been affected by racism.
‘Every black person has racism as a wound. Here are a handful of mine and how it affects 3 generations of black men in my family. Let’s create a better future together.
‘This video is 8 mins and 2 secs long. Derek Chauvin had his knee on George Floyd’s neck for another 44 seconds longer than that. Think about that.’ he wrote in the caption.
‘This video is 8 mins and 2 secs long. Derek Chauvin had his knee on George Floyd’s neck for another 44 seconds longer than that. Think about that.’ Oyelowo wrote