Already have an account?
Get back to the

Oscars 2015 Nominations: Only White Actors Received Academy Award Nods and the Internet Is Outraged

Michael Keaton, Bradley Cooper, Eddie Redmayne
The Academy nominated only white actors and actresses for the 2015 Oscars, and the Internet is outraged -- get the details here.

No diversity here. The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences received the wrath of the Internet on Thursday, Jan. 15, after announcing its nominees for the 2015 Oscars. All 20 nominees in acting categories are white — which makes the pool one of only a few instances of complete lack of diversity in nearly 20 years.

The last time all nominees were entirely white was in 2011, and before that, in 1998 for the 70th Annual Academy Awards.

Related: PHOTOS: The biggest Oscar snubs of all time

Coincidentally, the Academy overlooked the lead actor in Selma, a biopic about Martin Luther King, Jr., on what would have been his birthday.

While the film was nominated in the Best Picture category, along with Birdman, Boyhood, and The Grand Budapest Hotel, actor David Oyelowo — who portrayed King in Selma and was arguably a top contender for Best Actor — was left off the nominees list.

David Oyelowo
David Oyelowo attends the 72nd Annual Golden Globe Awards.

Related: PHOTOS: All the stars at the 2014 Oscars

Instead, the Academy selected Steve Carell (Foxcatcher), Bradley Cooper (American Sniper), Benedict Cumberbatch (The Imitation Game), Michael Keaton (Birdman), and Eddie Redmayne (The Theory of Everything) as 2015 nominees in the Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role category.

Adding salt to the wound was director Ava DuVernay‘s snub in her respective category, which includes Alejandro G. Inarritu (Birdman), Richard Linklater (Boyhood), Bennett Miller (Foxcatcher), Wes Anderson (The Grand Budapest Hotel), and Morten Tyldum (The Imitation Game).

The Internet criticized the Academy’s decision on Thursday using the hashtag #OscarsSoWhite, after it was revealed that minorities were entirely left off the acting categories. Below are reactions from people on Twitter.

Related: PHOTOS: The 2015 Golden Globes best show moments

Related: PHOTOS: The best audience reactions at awards shows

The 87th Academy Awards will take place on Sunday, Feb. 22, at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood.

In this article

Got a Tip form close button
Got a tip for US?
We're All Ears for Celebrity Buzz!