This year’s Oscars have been nothing short of controversial and they haven’t even happened yet. Kevin Hart was announced as host, removed, flirted with possibility of returning and then turned down the offer. The race for Best Picture is wide open and we have yet to receive the nominations. Not to mention, there’s a new issue arising between SAG-AFTRA and The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Science.
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Science is the body that decides the Oscar winners each year. The SAG-AFTRA is a body made up of the actors and actresses you often see on screen. As it pertains to the Oscars, they are the group of actors and actresses that present the awards on stage to the Oscar winners. This time around, these two organizations have beef.
SAG-AFTRA has claimed that the academy is intimidating them into providing more A-list talent to present the awards. Earlier today, SAG-AFTRA released a statement that reads, “SAG-AFTRA has fielded numerous requests to respond to assertions that the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences exerts extraordinary and unwarranted pressure on talent to hold them from appearing at other award presentations.” SAG-AFTRA later added, “We have received multiple reports of these activities and have experienced firsthand the Academy’s graceless pressure tactics and attempts to control the awards show talent pipeline.”
In short, SAG-AFTRA is asking the academy to back up or there will be problems. It’s unclear if the academy will respond, but we’ll see how this all plays out over the next few weeks. The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Science will announce the Oscar nominees on January 22nd and the award ceremony will be held next month. Stay tuned for more news and announcements regarding this year’s ceremony.
