Danny DeVito is the latest actor to join the chorus of celebrities reacting to the lack of non-white actors in this year's Oscar nomination list. He tells the Association Press that he believes Americans are "a bunch of racists."
"Americans are a bunch of racists" - actor joins #Oscarsowhite
Danny DeVito is the latest actor to join the chorus of celebrities reacting to the lack of non-white actors in this year's Oscar nomination list telling AP, Americans are "a bunch of racists."
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"It's unfortunate that the entire country is a racist country. This is one example of the fact that even though some people have given great performances in movies they weren't even thought about," the 71-year-old actor told the AP at Sundance Film Festival on Saturday, January 23:
The 'It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia' actor is just the latest star to address what has been dubbed a "major crisis" by the Academy. The organization instituted new guidelines on Friday, January 22 in order to address the growing diversity controversy.
"We are living in a country that discriminates and has certain racist tendencies so sometimes it's manifested in things like this and it's illuminated," DeVito continued. "But just generally speaking we're racists. We are a bunch of racists."
Other actors who have spoken up about the same issue include, Jada Pinkett Smith who will neither be attending nor watching the movie event, as well as her superstar husband, Will Smith.
Meanwhile, hot Chris Rock, who called the event, "the white BET Awards", will still host but is reported to have changed his script to address the lack of diversity at this year's show.
Watch DeVito speak with The Association Press below:
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