The Academy’s new membership for 2016 includes: Michael B. Jordan, Idris Elba, John Boyega, Daniel Dae Kim, Freida Pinto, America Ferrera & more! [LaineyGossip]
Tyga & Kylie Jenner really are back together. [Dlisted]
49 celebrities honor the 49 victims in Orlando. [OMG Blog]
Rosie Huntington-Whiteley has the best street style, part bajillion. [Popoholic]
Blac Chyna might need to invest in some comfortable sweatpants. [Celebslam]
David Foster’s daughters slam Yolanda Foster/Hadid. [Reality Tea]
A BBC reporter was caught using Tinder on air! [Buzzfeed]
What it’s like being super-liberal in a really red state. [XOJane]
Iggy Azalea reveals that Nick Young was cheating in the home they shared. [IDLY]
Sarah Palin is going to appear on Match Game. [Seriously OMG WTF]
Matt Bomer is just impossibly handsome. [Socialite Life]
OK, while the diversity issue needed to be addressed, some of the names on that list make no sense. Patti Lupone? Broadway legend but what movies? Vivica Fox? Huh? Dakota Johnson?! Anthony Anderson?!?!? John Boyega’s great but he’s been an actor for ten minutes! (No not literally) He would likely be a shoo in for me…in 5-10 years.
Goes to show again that the real work needs to be done with the product being made. More and better roles for women and minorities so I’m not looking at this list going..huh?!?
What in the world is the criteria?!
Dakota Johnson and Patti Lupone? What?
Yep, the link to the full list is at the bottom of the article. The fact that they had to go so far outside of the box to find new women and minorities invitees says a lot about the state of the film industry. Another one: Daniel Dae Kim. Handsome, talented, good performances…on TV!! What movies??
I’m surprised Kim Kardashian isn’t on that crazy list…I mean she was in a movie once lol oddly enough it was called “Disaster Movie”.
Michelle Rodriguez is even worse. She’s a terrible actress. It says something about how few Latino actresses they had to pick from.
Mia4S
But do you know why Daniel dae Kim isnt working in movies? Is he getting
Movie offers? How many Asian actors has big parts in mainstream movies? It’s much easier for minority actors to break into TV. This is exactly the problem someome like him wasn’t gonna get into this exclusive club because the exclusive club won’t employ many people like him.
@Chelsea, that’s exactly my point though. The real issue is lack of opportunity and this list makes that glaringly obvious! The Academy states repeatedly that they are about excellence in film for their membership (OK, debatable) but they had to pad their list with TV, Broadway, and some really questionable choices because they didn’t have enough women and minority candidates who are known for achievement in film! Mostly because they never had the opportunity to get there.
I mean, I’m sure the free screenings and DVDs are nice but nothing about this means improved opportunities. Just because you’re voting doesn’t mean you will actually get to be in or make these “Oscar” films. Plenty of Academy members haven’t worked for years.
Daniel Dae Kim is on Broadway currently. Took over the lead in King and I.
Mia4s, I completely agree with you. Depressing.
I think they Lainey article addresses this well:
“It’s important that the Academy be inclusive and better reflect the diversity of the real world. More voices, more empowerment, more opportunity—that should be the goal. But the problem was never about just the Academy—the problem is the industry as a whole. Even those complaints about the “worthiness” of certain members is more about a lack of opportunity than actually questioning talent or ability. Anthony Anderson and Regina King are working on television because that’s where they found opportunities.”
^^THIS RIGHT THERE. TV is eclipsing movies currently which is another reason the Academy is scrambling so hard. When the Emmys looks better than the Oscars you have an issue.
Now some on the list are just terrible actors but again terrible actors have WON Oscars. So that’s moot point
Patti Lupone is at least talented and in a position to judge other people on how well they act. If they needed a young latina, they could’ve perfectly called me. Not trying to brag, but my performance as Tinkerbell at my 4th grade school play puts all of Michelle Rodriguez’ filmography to shame.
Two AMPAS members must nominate a person for AMPAS membership along with other criteria. (Although a nomination usually bestows membership – Bree, Alicia)
Dakota Johnson’s mother is an AMPAS member and some other extended family members might be as well (Tippi, Antonio, Don). Nepotism finds a way
The Academy president is really desperate for more diversity to get people vote for poc films and actors. This happened last year too I recall. But it is the Hollywood as a whole that is really the problem and not the Academy so this sounds ineffective to fix things and a bit embarrassing. Hopefully lots of deserving people were not sidelined and if next year poc actors are nominated the Academy leadership can relax a bit.
Point of order! Point of order!
John Boyega got his start in England. His first big role was the lead character in the movie Attack the Block, which filmed when he was about 18 years old and was released in 2011. So no, he hasn’t only been acting for ten minutes. We just didn’t see him in North America until now! 😀
I saw Attack the Block when on first release (I’m a Yank). And again on DVD with some friends. There was a director’s commentary where it was mentioned that JJ Abrams had been working on (or had just released) Super-8, which was his kid-friendly sci-fi monster movie. And he was very impressed by Boyega’s performance.
He’s 24! He’s been in only two movies that hit anything approaching large scale notice. The fact that he made it on this list shows they couldn’t find enough Black actors with long term successful careers to fit the numbers they wanted. Nice for John, but an absolute indictment of Hollywood! (Although he makes more sense than Dakota Johnson any day.)
The truth is John and Dakota are just starting out. Neither has been nominated or even talked about seriously for nominations. Might they go on to massive careers? Sure! Absolutely! Might they crash and burn? Sure! Absolutely! The scent of desperation from the Academy is overwhelming.
That is an odd assortment of people I wouldn’t automatically assume should be Academy members, but at the same time it’s nice to see some diversity in age, gender, and race of the members.
Fully agree with all the points about the lack of opportunity equaling a small pool of non-white male actors though.
Patty Lapone has been in movies here & there since 1978. King of the Gypsies, Witness, Driving Miss Daisy, Heist, City by the Sea, etc
I just want to say thank you for the pictures.
Michael B Jordan is so ridiculously handsome, that smile is amazing
Yes he is!! The photo above doesn’t show his smile to its full effect, though.
Mmmm. Michael and Idris are so fine.
Besides them a lot of that list was a f*cking joke (Wayans bros, Vivica A. Fox etc). I actually read the criteria to become an Academy member and some don’t fit at all. It is just a random assortment of names. It’s actually ridiculous/insulting that they seemed to pick token minorities so they don’t look bad.
Also I knew there was more to Iggy and Nick ending things. Dude got his ex pregnant and waited until she was 4 months to tell Iggy.
Matt Bomer..yay. 😉
The video of the 49 celebs talking about the lives was really nicely done. I love that we get to hear more about the victims as people. What really stood out to me was the couples that perished together. It really moved me a lot. Well worth a watch!
Breaking news!!!! Adnan Syed (subject of serial podcast) has been granted a new trial and his conviction has been vacated!!!!!!!!
Seriously?! I must google