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Joaquin Phoenix Calls Out BAFTAs Diversity Problem During Award Acceptance Speech
At the BAFTA Awards on Sunday night, Joaquin Phoenix used his acceptance speech for Best Actor to call out the industry's prominent diversity problem. Phoenix won the award for his performance as Arthur Fleck in Joker, about a man with mental illness mistreated by society, who spirals and slowly forms an alter ego, the Joker. While the film takes place in Gotham City, a key location in the DC Universe, Fleck is not a character found in the comics.
The BAFTAs got a lot of backlash this year for the evident lack of diversity in its nominees. The acting nominees were all white, the directors included no women, and some people took issue with Margot Robbie being nominated twice in one category. Other award shows, like the Academy Awards, have faced similar criticism. This year's Oscar nominations ruffled feathers for paying too little attention to diverse films.
According to Deadline, Phoenix gave a powerful speech about the lack of diversity at the awards, and what needs to be done to change it. Instead of celebrating his win, Phoenix spoke of his conflicted feelings on the "privilege" he experiences. He calls out the BAFTAs in particular.
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I think that we send a very clear message to people of color that you’re not welcome here. I think that’s the message that we’re sending to people that have contributed so much to our medium and our industry, and in ways that we benefit from.
BAFTA spoke out themselves after the initial nominees were announced, citing their own disappointment and stating that there will be an internal investigation into the voting process.
Phoenix also seemed well-aware of his role in this system of privilege, saying that he is "ashamed," acknowledging that he is"part of the problem." He then put a spotlight on everyone in the room and stated what needs to be done to create change.
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We have to do the hard work to truly understand systemic racism. I think it is the obligation of the people that have created and perpetuate and benefit from a system of oppression to be the ones that dismantle it. So that’s on us.
Many people have called out the obvious diversity problem at the awards throughout the past few years, but there's been little visible change. The last time a woman was nominated for Best Director at the BAFTAs was when Kathryn Bigelow had the honor back in 2012. As for the Oscars, Greta Gerwig was nominated in 2017 for Lady Bird, but was shut out of the category this year, despite her film Little Women being nominated for Best Picture, and five other awards. Only five women have ever been nominated for Best Director in the history of the Academy Awards.
Phoenix's film, Joker, has gotten a lot of attention for its portrayal of mental illness and society. The movie was a box-office hit, but it had mixed reviews, some praising it, with others calling it damaging. But no matter what people think of his film, Phoenix has been using the attention it's bringing to highlight the systematic issues within the entertainment industry. By pointing out what needs to be done and admitting that he knows he is a part of the issue, Phoenix's words will hopefully inspire others to examine their privilege.
