Oscar Nominated Actress Says Call For Diversity is ‘Racist to Whites’

The announcement of a virtually all-white lineup of Oscar nominees this year has prompted an outcry from filmmakers and actors, blasting the Academy for its lack of inclusion. Oscar-nominated actress Charlotte Rampling weighed in on the fracas, describing the call for diversity “racist to whites.”

Speaking to French radio network Europe 1 in an interview posted Friday morning, and translated into English by The Guardian, the 69-year-old thespian continued: ““One can never really know, but perhaps the black actors did not deserve to make the final list.”

“Why classify people? These days everyone is more or less accepted,” she added.

Rampling’s 50-year career of appearing in American, French, British, and Italian films hit a high-water mark this year — as her performance in 45 Years is winning her rave reviews, accolades from critics’ associations, and her first Academy Award nomination.

Film critics were quick to note on Twitter that her comments were likely to hinder her chances of winning the statuette:

THE BIG SHORT is the story of a group of free-thinking outsiders who made millions by betting against Charlotte Rampling winning an Oscar.

— Matt Singer (@mattsinger) January 22, 2016

FWIW, don’t *not* see 45 YEARS just because Charlotte Rampling’s an idiot. It’s an absolutely terrific film.

— Jordan Hoffman (@jhoffman) January 22, 2016

She’s been around for so long and is so exquisite in 45 YEARS that I think Charlotte Rampling has an outside ch… OH NO!

— Scott Tobias (@scott_tobias) January 22, 2016

[h/t The Guardian]

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