Oscar voter on racism debate: 'The whole thing is absurd'

'The performances didn’t warrant it.'

An Oscar voter has spoken candidly and anonymously (hence the former) about the 2016 Oscars, saying that they believe the Academy reacted to the criticism over the lack of diversity in its nominees without properly analysing it.

In an interview with the Daily Beast about this year’s awards race, they were asked: “And what about the racism?”

“Actually, I think the accusations are ridiculous,” he or she responded.

“The performances didn’t warrant it. Why didn’t the Academy say, “It’s not the Academy membership, it’s the actors?” The acting branch is colorblind.

“I think it was a kneejerk reaction and the damage is done and they really responded—they were so reactive—and they didn’t think out the criticism. The whole thing is absurd.”

The voter acknowledged Idris Elba’s “really good” performance in Netflix film Beasts of No Nation, but thinks a lot of voters simply didn’t see the movie, something that unbelievably seems to happen a lot every year.

Last month, several named Academy members wrote in The Hollywood Reporter about their anger over the planned reappraisal of their memberships following the debacle.

“Are you saying I am racist or have racist tendencies and need to be excluded from voting?" one wrote.

"Are you saying if I worked another 10 years I would vote differently? Are you saying that I have not made my voting choices on quality but rather on the color of the artists’ skin? Are you saying that I have voted (consciously or unconsciously) to exclude women, members of the LGBT community and other minorities?

"I find it insulting and ignorant. I take my membership responsibilities seriously and am honored to be part of the Academy. I have paid my yearly dues, cast Oscar ballots each year, voted in categories only when I have seen all the films and consistently been involved in and voted on other AMPAS matters since I was invited to join in 1995.

“I am a gay man and my father is a Latino immigrant. Please explain to me how denying me my right to vote makes the Academy membership and the Oscar nominees more diverse?”

Racism furore aside, the voter who spoke to the Daily Beast said they think Leonardo DiCaprio has the Leading Actor award sewn up, but thinks Spotlight will edge The Revenant for Best Picture.