The 97th Academy Awards are just days away, but not everyone is excited. Inside Hollywood, the buzz isn’t about the glamor but about the outrage over this year’s nominees. A storm is brewing as committee members are fed up with what they see as an overemphasis on diversity and inclusion at the cost of quality.
Voting members fed up
As the big night approaches, Oscar voters are saying enough is enough. According to Raymond Arroyo, a well-known podcaster and author, many voters are so appalled by the selection process that they’ve chosen to abstain from voting altogether. “So many Oscar voters have told me the Oscars jumped the shark,” Arroyo shared. The reason? The Academy’s new diversity standards, introduced last year, are seen as a box-checking exercise that disqualifies top-tier films from consideration.
Diversity overload: Oscars’ new rules
The rules are clear. To be considered for Best Picture, a film must meet two out of four diversity categories: racial and ethnic diversity, gender equality, disability inclusion, or LGBTQ+ representation. While these goals are aimed at promoting equality, many filmmakers and voters feel they are forcing the Oscars into a corner, pushing out movies that would otherwise be nominated.
Small films dominate nominations
This year’s nominations are a direct result of the Academy’s new standards. Movies like Emilia Perez, The Brutalist, and Anora—small films with little mainstream appeal—are up for Best Picture, alongside the more commercially successful Wicked and Dune: Part Two. But even Wicked, which grossed millions at the box office, isn’t enough to satisfy the majority of voters. These films, though critically acclaimed, fail to capture the mass appeal that many moviegoers crave.
Hollywood out of touch with audiences
One of the biggest criticisms of the 2024 nominations is the disconnect between the Academy and the audience. Arroyo argues that Oscar voters are “out of touch,” selecting films that don’t resonate with the general public. “They are not taking into account popular tastes when making these choices,” he said. Fans and critics alike are frustrated that films like Deadpool and Wolverine, which were major hits, didn’t even make the cut.
Ratings impact: Oscars facing a crisis
The ratings for the 2024 Oscars ceremony, hosted by Conan O’Brien, are expected to take a hit. Arroyo predicts that unless Wicked takes home multiple awards, viewers will not tune in. “There was really nothing this year that captured the zeitgeist,” he said. Even with small increases in ratings over last year, the show’s viewership still fell short of what it used to be. This marks a shift in the film industry, where streaming giants and niche content dominate the scene.
Oscar voters reflect a fragmented industry
The film industry is in flux. As Arroyo points out, it’s like what happened to television decades ago: the rise of cable disrupted the landscape, and now streaming is doing the same. “Film is no longer the defining touchstone of culture,” he explained. This shift is evident in the types of films being nominated. The audience no longer gathers around blockbuster films, leaving smaller, niche movies to rise to the top.
A disastrous nominee dinner
The drama surrounding the Oscars didn’t stop with the nominations. Karla Sofía Gascón, one of the stars of Emilia Perez, skipped the star-studded Oscar nominees dinner, sparking further controversy. Gascón has been in the spotlight recently after old tweets resurfaced, showing her making racist and Islamophobic remarks. These tweets, which include criticizing George Floyd and mocking diversity efforts, have caused a backlash.
Gascón’s apology and the fallout
Gascón, who plays a transgender character in Emilia Perez, has since deleted her X (formerly Twitter) account and offered half-hearted apologies. Despite this, the controversy has already tainted the film’s chances at the Oscars. The star’s absence from the dinner was glaring, and her apology hasn’t won over critics. “I hope my silence will allow the film to be appreciated for what it is,” she posted on Instagram.
Is this the end of the Oscars?
For many Hollywood insiders, the 2024 Oscars mark the beginning of the end for the prestigious awards show. Voters are disillusioned, and the audience is disengaged. The Oscars may no longer be the cultural center they once were, and if things don’t change, the ceremony could lose its place as the highlight of the entertainment industry.
