Charlotte Rampling Clarifies Comments About Oscars Racism

An Oscar-nominated British actress who claimed a diversity row was “racist to white people” has said her comments have been “misinterpreted”.

Rampling adds: “One can never really know, but perhaps the black actors did not deserve to make the final list”.

As Rampling, speaking to Europe 1 in French, made her comments, two-time Oscar victor Michael Caine in a separate broadcast interview urged non-white actors to “be patient” as they await more recognition at Hollywood’s premier awards event. When asked if she understood the frustration and calls for stars to boycott this year’s ceremony, Rampling said: “No. I find that it is the other way around”. The board said in a statement that its goal was “to commit to doubling the number of women and diverse members of the Academy by 2020”.

Stars including Will and Jada Pinkett Smith, Spike Lee and Mark Ruffalo have all spoken publicly about their disappointment that no black actors or actresses featured in the nominations for the 2016 awards.

The Academy approved a series of “substantive changes” to its rules and organizational structure in an effort to ensure the diversity of its membership amid mounting criticism on Friday. “We live now in countries where anyway people are more or less accepted”, she said.

“You can’t vote for an actor because he’s black”, Caine told BBC Radio 4.

When asked in an interview on Friday morning for her take on the controversy, Rampling did not hold back.

I’ve been a fan of Charlotte Rampling ever since I saw “Georgie Girl” almost 50 years ago.

“We can not support it and (I) mean no disrespect … but, how is it possible for the second consecutive year all 20 contenders under the acting category are white?” “Outrageous, ignorant & offensive comments from Rampling”, she posted on her official Twitter page.

Meanwhile, lifetime voting rights will only be extended to Academy members who have qualified for renewal for three consecutive terms.

Hollywood’s African-American elite swiftly got involved. That is the worst kind.

But on Thursday night local time decision-makers at the Academy voted to amplify minority representation at their awards show.

She announced plans for an “ambitious, global campaign to identify and recruit qualified new members who represent greater diversity”.