Viola Davis and Danielle Deadwyler’s names have been very prominent in the news lately, as many have been up in arms over the Oscars overlooking their work and omitting them in this year’s nominees.
Now, both Viola and Danielle have addressed their Academy Awards snub. Both were expected to receive Best Actress nominations for their stellar performances, but were left out of the race.
Viola took to Instagram to speak her mind. On a post that shared an interview with The Woman King director saying this awards season was an “eye-opener,” Viola wrote:
“Allyship = Active support for the rights of a marginalized group without being a member of it.
THIS is what’s missing. Whether it be a “grassroots” campaign spearheaded by peers or multi-million industry dollars backing one, we rarely are the benefactors. If you see my work vou also have to see our plight and either contribute to it or hinder it. I stand in solidarity with Gina Prince-Bythewood (@gpbmadeit) and all artists of color who continue to work,
create, thrive despite our environment.
I will hope……always.”
Danielle also shared her sentiments on the awards scene. Till director Chiononye Chukwu wrote on Instagram after the snub:
“We live in a world and work in industries that are so aggressively committed to upholding whiteness and perpetuating an unabashed misogyny towards Black women.”
The 40-year-old actress, who had her breakout role in the film, agreed with what the director said, stating on Kermode & Mayo’s Take podcast:
“We’re talking about people who perhaps chose not to see the film. We’re talking about misogynoir. It comes in all kinds of ways. Whether it’s direct or indirect, it impacts who we are.”
The question is more intent on people who are living in whiteness, white people’s assessment of what the spaces they are privileged by are doing.”
