#OscarSoWhite: new controversy over lack of diversity at the Oscars

British actress Cynthia Erivo arriving at the 2020 Oscar nominee lunch at the Dolby Theater in Hollywood. Valerie MACON / AFP

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The Oscars will take place this Sunday, February 9, 2020. Among the films that could win many prizes are "1917", "Parasite" or "Joker". But this year, red carpet, golden statuettes and glitter are once again likely to be overshadowed by a controversy over the lack of diversity.

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With one of our correspondents in the United States, Loubna Anaki

Some speak of the whitest ceremony since 1998 . Too white, not enough women, not enough diversity ... Five years after the OscarSoWhite movement, the "Oscars too white", the lists of nominees for this evening's ceremony are making much talk across the Atlantic.

► To read: Cinema: too white, the Oscars?

Of the twenty actors nominated, only one black woman is on the list. It is about the British actress Cynthia Erivo for her role in the film Harriet retracing the life of Harriet Taubman, symbol of the fight against slavery.

A controversy that is not new

A few days ago, the actress announced that her nomination had a bitter taste given the lack of diversity still prevailing at the Oscars . The same criticism was made of the lack of women in the list of directors. No director is present this year, despite the success of the film The Daughters of Doctor March by Greta Gerwig who notably won six nominations, but not that of best director.

A controversy that is not new. While the academy claims to have made efforts in terms of diversity, between 2015 and 2019, the number of female or minority members would have increased from 8 to 16%.

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A publication shared by cynthiaerivo (@cynthiaerivo) on Feb 3. 2020 at 4:45 PST

But this is still insufficient, according to many. A few days ago, when he received the Bafta award for best actor for his role in Joker , Joachim Phoenix denounced this lack of diversity. As the controversy swells, others may well join the movement tonight on the stage of the Dolby Theater, in Los Angeles, where the ceremony takes place.

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