'Selma' actor David Oyelowo says the Academy 'doesn't reflect me'

LONDON — British actor David Oyelowo, who missed out on a nomination for his role as Martin Luther King Jr. in Selma at last year’s Academy Awards, has spoken out about the lack of diversity in this year’s nominations.

Oyelowo, who was speaking at a gala honouring Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences president Cheryl Boone Isaac on Monday night, said that the current Academy “doesn’t reflect me, and it doesn’t reflect this nation,” according to the Guardian.

“The Academy has a problem,” said the actor, who compared the battle to the 1960s voting rights campaign in the U.S.

“When Dr King said we need the Voting Rights Act to be passed, LBJ said it’s too soon, it can’t be done,” the 39-year-old said.

“The Academy is an institution in which they all say radical and timely change cannot happen quickly. It better happen quickly. The law of this country can change in a matter of months. The Oscars is on Feb. 28. Cheryl needs us to pray that by that date, change is going to come.”

Boone Issac said Monday that she was “heartbroken and frustrated,” by the lack of inclusion, she promised that the Academy is taking “dramatic steps to alter the makeup of our membership.”

Spike Lee, Jada Pinkett Smith and Snoop Dogg have also spoken out this week about the lack of diversity at the awards show.

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