Jan 20, 2016
This year's Academy Award nominations have been wrung with controversy, following accusations of lack of diversity (read: everyone nominated is white.) In particular, the producers of N.W.A biopic Straight Outta Compton have been particularly vocal, not only about the lack of African American actors nominated, but to praise those who should have been recognized.
First, producer Will Packer called the Oscars an "embarrassment," and now, Ice Cube has made a fairly controversial statement about the film, joking that if a slave character had been cast, perhaps the film would have been more recognized (it has only been nominated for one award, Best Original Screenplay.)
In a new interview on Angie Martinez’s Power 105.1 radio program, Cube spoke about how the film didn't receive much attention from Golden Globe or Oscars nominations.
“I think we deserve Best Picture,” Ice Cube said. “Especially by them leaving two [movies] out. They usually pick 10 movies. They picked eight this year…I do what I’m supposed to do to promote the project. I ain’t gonna kiss no ass for nothing. Maybe that is the problem. Or maybe we should’ve put a slave in Straight Outta Compton. I think that’s where we messed up. That’s where we messed up. Just one, random slave for the Academy members to recognize us as a real, black movie…The thing about it is that does not define us or—That award is cool. It’s cool to be recognized. But people recognized this movie back in August when it did $200 million at the box office.”
At the end of the day, however, he understands that the real recognition comes from his fans, not the critics.
Watch below:
Source: HipHopDX