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'Race is not a costume': Richard Dreyfuss slammed for saying new Oscar inclusivity guidelines make him 'vomit'

The Academy Awards stated that films hoping to win 'Best Picture' will have to hire more black, female, LGBT, or disabled cast and crew from 2024
UPDATED MAY 7, 2023
Richard Dreyfuss has accused the Academy of 'treating people like children'  (Jon Kopaloff/Getty Images)
Richard Dreyfuss has accused the Academy of 'treating people like children' (Jon Kopaloff/Getty Images)

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Academy Award-winner Richard Dreyfuss has expressed his strong criticism of the new diversity and inclusion requirements for the Oscars, stating that they make him want to "vomit." Starting in 2024, films will have to meet specific requirements related to the representation and inclusion of underrepresented groups such as black, female, LGBT, or disabled individuals, or address themes that affect these communities. This new Academy Awards rule aims to encourage greater diversity and inclusivity in the film industry.

Dreyfuss, best known for his role in 'Jaws', voiced his opposition to the regulations during a recent episode of PBS' 'Firing Line'. He accused the Academy of "treating people like children" by imposing such criteria. Dreyfuss, 75, also expressed his support for Laurence Olivier's portrayal of 'Othello' in blackface, while the Academy of Motion Picture has set new rules for 'Best Picture' eligibility, requiring films to have adequate representation of minority communities in the cast and crew.

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'Are we really risking hurting people’s feelings?'

Margaret Hoover questioned Dreyfuss on his views about the upcoming inclusivity guidelines, to which he replied, "They make me vomit. No one should be telling me as an artist that I have to give in to the latest, most current idea of what morality is. What are we risking? Are we really risking hurting people’s feelings? You can’t legislate that. You have to let life be life and I’m sorry, I don’t think there is a minority or majority in the country that has to be catered to like that."



 

'This is so patronizing'

Dreyfuss, who won the best actor Oscar in 1978 for his leading role in 'The Goodbye Girl' added, "This is an art form. It’s also a form of commerce, and it makes money, but it’s an art." Dreyfuss also came to the defense of English actor Olivier, who wore blackface to portray 'Othello' in the 1965 film adaptation of the Shakespearean play. "Laurence Olivier was the last white actor to play Othello, and he did it in 1965," Dreyfuss said. "And he did it in blackface. And he played a black man brilliantly. Am I being told that I will never have a chance to play a Black man? Is someone else being told that if they’re not Jewish, they shouldn’t play The Merchant of Venice? Are we crazy? Do we not know that art is art? This is so patronizing. It’s so, it’s so thoughtless, and treating people like children."

'We have to anticipate having our feelings hurt'

Hoover asked him if "there’s a difference between the question of representation and who is allowed to represent other groups?" She said, "explicitly in this country, given the history of slavery and the sensitivities around black racism." But Dreyfuss responded, "There shouldn’t be. … Because it’s patronizing. Because it says we’re so fragile that we can’t have our feelings hurt. We have to anticipate having our feelings hurt, our children’s feelings hurt. We don’t know how to stand up and bop the bully in the face."

Richard Dreyfuss attends the screening of “American Graffiti” during the 2023 TCM Classic Film Festival on April 14, 2023 in Los Angeles, California.
Richard Dreyfuss (Presley Ann/Getty Images)

'Race is not a costume for you to put on'

However, netizens did not seem to agree with Dreyfuss. One user took to Twitter to comment, "He said it was about commerce. How is it fair that the majority of white actors get the opportunity and money. He wouldn’t like it if it was reversed," while another said, "I knew I was right to despise this man." A third commented, "He didn't even understand the question. He was just chomping at the bit to say that - barely even heard the word inclusion and started talking about how he wants to do blackface," while a fourth added, "He doesn’t understand that the under representation of minorities in films is so much more than just 'hurt feelings'. Race is not a costume for you to put on. I would love to hear him say these things to a black actor." One user sarcastically replied, "Sh*t guys we forgot to tell grandpa he can’t play in blackface anymore. I KNEW we were forgetting something." "When someone shows you who they are, believe them. He’s a racist who needs to take care he doesn’t choke on his own vomit. Let him dress up in blackface. Some people insist on learning the hard way," added another.



 



 



 



 



 



 

This article contains remarks made on the Internet by individual people and organizations. MEAWW cannot confirm them independently and does not support claims or opinions being made online.

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