LOS ANGELES, Jan 25: Oscar-winning songwriter John Legend feels the Academy made a “good move” by putting out measures to double the number of women and diverse members by 2020.
Amid the growing backlash for lack of diversity at the upcoming Oscar Awards, Academy, last week, approved a series of substantive changes designed to make the its membership, governing bodies, and voting members significantly more diverse.
The 37-year-old singer, however, added he does not have any stand on the protests by fans and celebrities against ignorance of colour artists in 88th Oscars, reported E! Online.
“I don’t really have a stand on the boycott right now. I do believe that the Academy made a good move yesterday in trying to diversify the ranks in the Academy.”
“I just became a member of the Academy this year. This is my first year voting and I think it’s important for the Academy to come closer to reflecting what the real population looks like.”
Spike Lee, Jada Pinkett Smith and Will Smith have gone as far to say they will not be attending the annual telecast this February.
For Legend, he believes the problem with diversity doesn’t just rest on the Academy’s shoulders. Instead, it’s much bigger than that.
“I don’t think it’s the Academy’s responsibility solely because so much of the Academy is fed by who’s working in the industry and if people aren’t getting jobs in the industry, they can’t be in the Academy because they aren’t working,” he said.
“It runs through Hollywood and it’s a bigger problem than the Oscars themselves and a bigger issue than just the Academy’s membership.” (PTI)
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