SACRAMENTO – Assemblymember Luis Alejo (D-Salinas), Chair of the California Latino Legislative Caucus, released the following statement today on the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences’ failure to nominate a single actor of color for the second year in a row:
“The California Latino Legislative Caucus congratulates Alejandro González Iñárritu upon his nomination for Best Director and appreciates the Motion Picture Academy for recognizing his accomplishments in making the critically acclaimed film ‘The Revenant.’ But the 21 members of the California Legislature who make up the Latino Caucus are disheartened that for the second consecutive year the Academy has failed to recognize the work of a single actor of color. America is a nation of many different ethnicities. By failing to nominate a person of color in the acting categories, the Academy is failing the nation and the millions of Americans who enjoy movies, because their nominations do not reflect America. It is surprising that several great performances by actors of color in films that are eligible for the 2016 Oscars were completely overlooked by the Academy. Academy President Cheryl Boone Issacs, a person of color herself, has acknowledged this lack of diversity among this year’s nominees and has stated that big changes have to happen soon. The members of the Latino Caucus could not agree more.”
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Contact: Andrew Bird / (916) 319-2030 / Andrew.Bird@asm.ca.gov
