Oscars 2020: 'Where are the people of color?' Social media explodes with Scarlett Johansson jokes
The 92nd Academy Award nominations have finally been announced and it is now time to catch up with all the major nominees from the film and television world. Todd Phillips' 'Joker' with 11 nods and Martin Scorsese’s 'The Irishman', Quentin Tarantino’s 'Once Upon a Time in Hollywood' and Sam Mendes’s '1917' with 10 nominations each led the way.
While movie lovers are happy to see their favorite films get nominated, several Twitter users expressed their disappointment over lack of representation for Black and Asian creators. "Sorry to all the black and Asian creators who were completely snubbed this year," one tweet read and another said, "Trees got more representation than Black and Asian people this year."
Many even went on to point out the lack of cultural diversity over the years. "According to my back of the envelope math, over 92 years of #OscarNoms, there have been 0 Asian Americans nominated in acting categories out of 1,840 total nominations. Seems weird," one user wrote and another said, "It's not just about Black People, how about Asian, Indian every ethnic origin there's no thinking outside the box at the #oscarnoms Scarlett Johansson two nods!!!! eeer why!"
Another tweet read, "From the time Black American actors begin working in Hollywood, it takes on average 20 years before they star or co-star in a major Hollywood film. It takes Black British actors on average 4 years to do the same thing."
Even though 'Parasite' made history, there was no nomination for Awkwafina's performance. Several fans expressed their disappointment. "Shame for @awkwafina. Academy didn’t see a need to nominate two Asian actors," one fan posted and another said, "Awkwafina could’ve and should’ve made history as the FIRST Asian American woman and the first Asian woman SINCE 1935 to be nominated for Best Leading Actress."
Meanwhile, many Twitter users spoke about how Scarlett Johansson got two nominations for her performance in the Best Supporting Actress category for 'Jojo Rabbit' and in Best Actress category for her work in 'Marriage Story'. Poking fun at the two nods, one fan wrote, "The Academy says that Scarlett Johansson was a better actor in two separate movies than any Asian, Latinx, Indigenous, or Black actress in the world this year (w the one exception of Cynthia Erivo). That says it all."
One tweet read, "Scarlett 'I Can Play a Tree' Johansson over Lupita Nyong'o or Jennifer Lopez this year?" and another said, "I understand the arguement for Lupita but chill, Scarlett Johansson deserved this. #OscarNoms." One fan straightaway said, "This year’s Oscar nominations reads like a bad joke. No Jennifer Lopez, no Awkwafina, no Eddie Murphy, no Lupita. So disappointed. They went as far as nominating Scarlett Johansson twice. Racism is alive and well in Hollywood. Shame #OscarNoms."
Another sarcastic tweet read, "I’m just sayin’ Jennifer Lopez was robbed among other Black, Latinx and Asian actors."
The award ceremony will be held on February 9, 2020, this year at the Dolby Theatre, Los Angeles, California, United States.
