Controversy has been swirling since what is arguably the music biopic of the decade, Straight Outta Compton, was snubbed during the Oscar nominations. When the film itself, aside from it’s two white screenwriters, was conveniently left off of the list of nods it even spawned an online hashtag, #OscarsSoWhite. In the wake of the controversy, several Oscar voters have gathered to discuss Straight Outta Compton, the nominations and what they think of the film's place in culture.
Numerous stars including Jada Pinkett Smith, Spike Lee and Snoop Dogg have already joined the #OscarsSoWhite movement, but several Oscar voters, directors and producers are not convinced that the nominations were in fact racially motivated.
“Nobody can accuse the Academy of being racist,” an anonymous director said to Entertainment Weekly. “Straight Outta Compton is a masterpiece, probably the best biopic since Amadeus - but many if not most of the Academy can’t fathom songs like ‘F*ck tha Police’ I know many members who wouldn’t even see the film because it represented a culture that they detest or, more accurately, the assume they detest.”
A writer, director and producer connected the Oscar votes in a big picture way for the publication, “I think employment is a bigger problem than awards, actually. An all-white ballot is the symptom; low minority hiring is the disease. Those of us in the industry, voters or not, need to do better!”
Straight Outta Compton also failed to receive a Golden Globes nomination but was a surprise pick for the Screen Actors Guild awards. For the Golden Globes nominations, Straight Outta Compton was beat out in the Best Picture, Comedy or Musical category by The Big Short, Joy, The Martian, Spy and Trainwreck. For the SAG awards a day prior, Compton did receive a nomination for best ensemble, joining Trumbo, Beasts of No Nation, Spotlight and Big Short.
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