2019 Academy Awards

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Overview

The 2019 Academy Awards, also known as the 2019 Oscars, refers to the 91st Academy Awards, an awards ceremony honoring achievement in the film industry for 2018 work.

Background

Outstanding Achievement in Popular Film

On August 8th, 2018, the Academy's board of governors approved several changes for the 91st Academy Awards.^[6] These changes included a shorter ceremony, reducing the length of the telecast to three hours, and a new category: "Outstanding Achievement in Popular Film." However, despite the announcement, the board did not specify what exactly made a film eligible for the award. They wrote, "We will create a new category for outstanding achievement in popular film. Eligibility requirements and other key details will be forthcoming."

That day, they tweeted,^[7] "Change is coming to the #Oscars. Here's what you need to know: – A new category is being designed around achievement in popular film. – We've set an earlier airdate for 2020: mark your calendars for February 9. – We're planning a more globally accessible, three-hour telecast." The post (shown below) received more than 3,400 retweets and 8,200 likes.

Online, people reacted negatively to the decision with many in the entertainment business and cultural criticism mocking the idea. Actor Rob Lowe joked about the idea being worse than the time he infamously performed a song at the ceremony. He tweeted,^[8] "Seriously, this 'best pop movie' category is the worst idea the Academy has had since they asked me to sing with Snow White." The tweet (shown below, left) received more than 2,700 retweets and 23,000 likes in two days.

Others made up mock categories that would also be added to the ceremony. Anchorman-director and Oscar-winner Adam McKay tweeted,^[9] "Other new categories: -Best movie where shit blowed up good. -Hottest female alien – Best back flip to avoid a thrown knife -Best knife throw -Best 'you thought he was dead but now he’s back and REALLY kicking ass'." Within two days, the post (shown below, center) received more than 390 retweets and 2,900 likes.

Some mocked the announcement of the shorter segment. Twitter^[10] user @JamesSchamus tweeted,BREAKING: So excited that the Academy is going to hand out the new Popular Movie #Oscars award during its own tv spot in the middle of a Super Bowl ad break, thus assuring the biggest possible audience for it." The post (shown below, right) received more than 25 retweets and 120 likes in two days.

Some speculated that the move was caused by the popularity of the film Black Panther, which would, if not nominated for Best Picture, could alienate fans of the film. Additionally, some speculated that the change could be racially motivated, due to Black Panther predominately black cast and production team. Author Mark Harris tweeted,^[11] "It truly is something that in the year Black Panther, a movie made just about entirely by and with black people, grosses $700 million, the Academy's reaction is, 'We need to invent something separate…but equal.'" The tweet (shown below) 6,300 retweeted and 22,000 likes in 24 hours.

Later, the Academy followed the announcement with an addendum.^[12] They wrote:

While the details for a popular film category are still being finalized, a single film is eligible for an Oscar in both categories -- Outstanding Achievement in Popular Film and the Academy Award for Best Picture. The new category will be introduced this coming year, at the 91st Oscars. In creating this award, the Board of Governors supports broad-based consideration of excellence in all films.

Several media outlets reported on the change, including Uproxx,^[13] The Daily Dot, ^[14] Vox,^[15] The Washington Post^[16] and more.

On August 10th, Redditor ^[17] Trimmed_Delusions asked about the controversy in the /r/OutOfTheLoop subreddit.

Kevin Hart Hosting Controversy

On December 4th, 2018, actor and comedian Kevin Hart announced on Instagram^[1] that he would be hosting the 2019 Academy Awards. He posted, "For years I have been asked if I would ever host the Oscars, and my answer was always the same…I said that it would be the opportunity of a lifetime[…]I am so happy to say that the day has finally come for me to host the Oscars." Within two days, the post received more than 750,000 likes (shown below).

Following the announcement, some on Twitter pointed out that some of Hart's old tweets and standup routines expressed a homophobic viewpoint. On December 4th, Twitter^[4] @benfraserlee tweeted a quote from Hart's 2010 standup comedy movie in which Hart jokes about how "one of [his] biggest fears is [his] son growing up and being gay." They also posted several tweets from Hart. The tweet received more than 860 retweets and 1,700 likes in two day (shown below, left). One of Hart's tweets stated,^[2] "Yo if my son comes home and try's 2 play with my daughters doll house I'm going to break it over his head & say n my voice 'stop that's gay'" (shown below, center).

Two days later, actor Jamie Lee Curtis tweeted,^[3] "Homophobia is not positivity." The tweet, which many believe was in response to the tweets, received more than 8,700 retweets and 51,000 likes (shown below, right).

On December 6th, Hart posted a video on Instagram^[5] about the controversy surrounding his tweets. In the video, he claims that he has changed, grown and evolved. The post received more than 1.1 million views and 189,000 likes in 24 hours.

The following day, Hart tweeted, "I have made the choice to step down from hosting this year's Oscar's….this is because I do not want to be a distraction on a night that should be celebrated by so many amazing talented artists. I sincerely apologize to the LGBTQ community for my insensitive words from my past." The tweet received more than 9,400 retweets and 53,000 likes in 24 hours (shown below).

Following the controversy, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences decided that they would produce the ceremony without a host. ^[18]

Nominations

On January 22nd, 2019, the nominations for the 91st annual Academy Awards were announced.^[19]

Development

On February 24th, 2019, the 91st annual Academy Awards were held at the Dolby Theater in Los Angeles, California. Green Book took the award for best picture, while Alfonso Cuarón won best director for Roma The Academy named Olivia Colman best actress for The Favourite, Regina King best supporting actress for If Beale Street Could Talk, Rami Malek for Bohemian Rhapsody and Mahershala Ali for best supporting actor for Green Book, the actor's second best supporting actor win (Colman's acceptance speech, show below). Along with Charlie Wachtel, David Rabinowitz and Kevin Willmott, Spike Lee won for best adapted screen play for Blackkklansman, and Nick Vallelonga, Brian Currie and Peter Farrelly won best screenplay for Green Book. Spider-Man: Into the Spider-verse won best animated feature film.^[20]

Olivia Colman is blown away as she accepts her Best Actress Award for her performance in @the_favourite. #Oscars pic.twitter.com/4oQAUUv19Y

— The Academy (@TheAcademy) February 25, 2019

Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper A Star Is Born Performance

That evening, A Star Is Born actors Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper performed the song "Shallow," which later won an Oscar for best music (Original Song). A photograph from their performance, in which Cooper and Lady Gaga look into each other's eyes later went viral, with people adding the caption about their perceived affection for one another. Twitter ^[21] user @ejdickson tweeted the picture with the caption, "Me every time my husband says he just unloaded the dishwasher." Within 24 hours, the post received more than 10 retweets and 100 likes (shown below, left). Twitter^[22] user @goldengateblond posted images of the pair with the caption "welp I’m pregnant #oscars." The post received more than 775 retweets and 5,400 likes in 24 hours (shown below, center). Twitter^[23] user @sbstryker tweeted an object-labeled variation, labeling Gaga "gays" and Cooper "iced coffee in the winter." The post received more than 1,400 retweets and 7,900 likes in 24 hours (shown below, right).

Spike Lee's Acceptance Speech

For the first time in his career, Spike Lee won a competitive Oscar for best adapted screenplay for Blackkklansman (shown below). During the speech, Lee discussed the 2020 presidential election, implying that people should vote out President Donald Trump urging people "be on the right side of history" and "make the moral choice between love versus hate."

President Trump responded to the criticism on Twitter.^[29] He wrote, "Be nice if Spike Lee could read his notes, or better yet not have to use notes at all, when doing his racist hit on your President, who has done more for African Americans (Criminal Justice Reform, Lowest Unemployment numbers in History, Tax Cuts,etc.) than almost any other Pres!" Within 24 hours, the tweet received more than 17,000 retweets and 85,000 likes (shown below).

Reaction to Green Book Win

Green Book's win for best picture was a controversial pick for many viewers, critics and attendees. The Los Angeles Times^[24] called the film "the worst best picture winner since Crash." The Associated Press^[25] reported that Spike Lee "waved his hands in disgust and appeared to try to walk out of the Dolby Theatre" when the winner was announced. Lee later said in the press room, "I’m snakebit. I mean every time somebody's driving somebody, I lose. But they changed the seating arrangement!" The comment was a reference to 1990 best picture winner Driving Ms. Daisy, another film that was criticized for its depiction of race and racism.^[26]

He later elaborated, "I guess it’s progress, because Do the Right Thing didn’t even get nominated. I mean, it seems very similar to Driving Miss Daisy. They just changed the driving positions."

Online, people tweeted their criticisms of the film and the win. Twitter^[27] user @MarkHarrisNYC tweeted, "Remember when Green Book won Best Picture? Man, that choice did not age well." The tweet received more than 2,600 retweets and 13,000 likes in 24 hours (shown below, left).

Twitter^[28] user @MsPackyetti tweeted,^[28] "Green Book was not for Black people. It was to make white people feel good about doing little to stop racism beyond the interpersonal. Also, the other movies were better. ALSO, Regina, Ruth, Spike & more amazing Black folks won last night so I’m done talmbout Green a Book." Within 24 hours, the tweet received more than 675 retweets and 4,000 likes in 24 hours (shown below, right).

That evening, Redditor ^[30] AtlasFink posted about the win in the /r/movies subreddit. The post received more than 15,000 points in 24 hours.