The 2020 BAFTA nominations came out as all white this year shutting out top black contenders Cynthia Erivo and Lupita Nyong’o from the major acting categories for their performances in ‘Harriet’ and ‘Us’ respectively.
Speaking to Variety at the premiere of her HBO starred in series ‘The Outsider’, Cynthia lauded her opinion about the all-white BAFTAs in a period where Hollywood seems to have had a new conversation in diversity and inclusion. “It’s disappointing to see that we’ve got to this point in time and we’ve had such wonderful advancement in inclusion and diversity, and the films this year were beautiful, such wonderful stories told, and to not have that represented in an awards show like the BAFTAs is just disappointing really,” Cynthia said.
Two days ago, it was reported that Cynthia had received an invitation to the upcoming BAFTA ceremony as a performer for her ‘Harriet’ movie song ‘Stand Up’, but the offer was turned down by the actress. She answers the decline saying, “The reason I didn’t perform is because I don’t think it’s proper representation, as a woman of color, of people of color in this country in this industry.”
However, in the wake of the backlash coming BAFTAs way for going so white, the British Academy has announced they will be releasing a careful and detailed review of how the nomination process goes in attempt to discredit all opinions of being bias.
Erivo scored a Golden Globe nomination in the best lead actress drama category, but missed out to Renee Zellweger last Sunday night. She arrives at the Critics’ Choice awards this Sunday as a best actress nominee and also makes an appearance at the Screen Actors Guild Awards come January 19, for her lead actress mention.
