Actress Christina Ricci has called out the Academy Awards for their elitist and exclusive approach to the nomination review, criticizing the Oscars for not considering all talented actors and actresses in the running for awards.
Christina Ricci published a lengthy post on her Instagram account on Friday. She questioned the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences’ decision to review Andrea Riseborough’s nomination for Best Actress performance in the low-key independent film To Leslie.
“Seems hilarious that the ‘surprise nomination’ (meaning tons of money wasn’t spent to position this actress) of a legitimately brilliant performance is being met with an investigation,” Ricci stated. “So it’s only the films and actors that can afford the campaigns that deserve recognition? Feels elitist and exclusive and frankly very backward to me.” Ricci added that she is sure that Riseborough had “nothing to do with the campaigning” for the nomination, “yet now her nomination will be tainted by this.” Ricci’s post concluded: “If it’s taken away, shame on them.”
Ricci’s comments come in response to the recent controversy surrounding Andrea Riseborough’s Oscar nomination. Despite her talent and critical acclaim, some have questioned the validity of her nomination, claiming that she is not a big enough name to be considered for an Oscar. However, Ricci disagrees with this sentiment, stating that talent and hard work should be the only factors that matter regarding nominations. Ricci’s comments have been met with widespread support from fans, fellow actors, and actresses, who agree that the Oscars need to become more inclusive and representative of the wider film industry.
who cares if the Oscar cops decide Andrea Riseborough's To Leslie campaign was illegal? they'll never find her pic.twitter.com/DUKFiHS88w
— Jacob Oller (@JacobOller) January 27, 2023
The Academy said it would “review the campaign procedures around this year’s nominees.” This announcement was made public one week ago. However, they did not directly identify To Leslie in their statement. They instead declared that they are striving to “ensure that the Awards competition is conducted fairly and ethically.” in their statement. “We are committed to ensuring an inclusive awards process,” the statement read. “We are conducting a review of the campaign procedures around this year’s nominees to ensure that no guidelines were violated and to inform us whether changes to the guidelines may be needed in a new era of social media and digital communication. We have confidence in the integrity of our nomination and voting procedures and support genuine grassroots campaigns for outstanding performances.” Christina Ricci’s call for more diverse nominations at the Oscars has widespread Hollywood community support.
Fans and friends have responded positively to Christina Ricci’s statements at the Oscars, and many have clarified their stance on social media in connection with this matter.
Just unfortunate that Andrea Riseborough’s very first Oscar nomination is tainted with undeserved hate and malice. She deserves to be on the final five. Watch TO LESLIE first, before judging or slandering her.
Actors love this kind of raw, immersive acting. #tolesliemovie pic.twitter.com/3AxgUwJSng
— Vince (@vincentlao18) January 27, 2023
Although the statement from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences does not name any films or individuals in particular, many people believe that it is a reaction to the unexpected nomination of Andrea Riseborough for the play To Leslie. During its limited run in theaters in October, the movie generated a little more than $27,000, placing it among the lowest-grossing films nominated for an Academy Award for Best Picture. Because there was almost no money available for an awards campaign, the principal actors and directors took it upon themselves to ensure that the picture was entered and uploaded onto the Academy’s screening portal. Additionally, Riseborough and Morris solicited the assistance of their friends to promote the movie.
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Many have called for the Oscars to reconsider its approach to nominations, taking into account the talent and hard work of all actors and actresses, regardless of their level of fame or popularity. Only then, they say, will the Oscars truly become a fair and equitable celebration of the best in film. Christina Ricci’s comments serve as a powerful reminder that the Oscars need to evolve and become more inclusive if they are to remain relevant. With her outspoken stance against the Oscars’ elitist approach to nominations, Ricci has once again shown herself as a champion of the underdog and a voice for the voiceless in Hollywood.
Andrea Riseborough’s nomination changes the game, it really does. That kind of last minute surge for a small indie that hasn’t shown up anywhere else but Independent Spirits and actually gets the Oscar nomination in a category like Best Actress I can’t even recall. Incredible! pic.twitter.com/nxuttWbEyK
— Brian Rowe (@mrbrianrowe) January 24, 2023
The British actress was as astonished as anybody when the Oscar nominations were revealed on Tuesday morning for her performance, which has also been nominated for the Independent Spirit Awards. “It’s such an unexpected ray of light. It was so hard to believe it might ever happen because we really hadn’t been in the running for anything else,” Riseborough said. “Even though we had a lot of support, the idea it might actually happen seemed so far away.”
