Stephen King's Response To Oscars' Lack Of Diversity Receives Backlash

This year’s Oscar nods were even more dominated by while male nominees than usual. Many notable snubs occurred, including the omission of Parasite and Us actors. Eddie Murphy (who very publicly called out the Academy in 1988 for this same reason) was not recognized for his best movie in years, Dolemite Is My Name, and no female helmers surfaced on the Best Directors list. It’s not something that can be glossed over at this point, although that’s what Oscar voter Stephen King appears to be doing on Twitter.

Not coincidentally, King’s The Outsider novel is currently being adapted by HBO and stars Cynthia Erivo, who has spoken out on how “it’s not enough” to be the sole actor color nominated by the Academy (for Harriet) this year. King, however, fired off a tweet thread this morning that is drawing the most focus for the following entry.

“…I would never consider diversity in matters of art,” the horror author wrote. “Only quality. It seems to me that to do otherwise would be wrong.”

…I would never consider diversity in matters of art. Only quality. It seems to me that to do otherwise would be wrong.

— Stephen King (@StephenKing) January 14, 2020

This statement followed King’s first tweet, in which he explained that, of the three categories in which he’s allowed to nominate, “the diversity issue … did not come up.”

As a writer, I am allowed to nominate in just 3 categories: Best Picture, Best Adapted Screenplay, and Best Original Screenplay. For me, the diversity issue–as it applies to individual actors and directors, anyway–did not come up. That said…

— Stephen King (@StephenKing) January 14, 2020

He added a few more thoughts on the subject, which could be interpreted in a few ways, depending on one’s perspective: (1) A slight backtrack with the final entry conceding that any “shut out” won’t be productive to any game’s player; or (2) A double down (as with this next tweet) that makes an argument about how “such people are badly under-represented,” and he appears to be referring to artists as a whole as the underdog. This kind-of makes no sense (since artists are recognizing artists), but King appears to be sticking with his point: he wants to “make sure everyone gets the same fair shot,” and “sex, color, or orientation” shouldn’t even enter an Academy member’s thought process.

The most important thing we can do as artists and creative people is make sure everyone has the same fair shot, regardless of sex, color, or orientation. Right now such people are badly under-represented, and not only in the arts.

— Stephen King (@StephenKing) January 14, 2020

You can't win awards if you're shut out of the game.

— Stephen King (@StephenKing) January 14, 2020

Let’s just say that The Shining author’s tweets aren’t landing like he’d like them to land. Selma and When They See Us director Ava DuVernay lamented what she called “backward and ignorant” remarks from King. She was joined by others who argued against the meritocracy mindset that’s been established and maintained by a predominantly white-male membership, who might not even be aware of their own bias.

When you wake up, meditate, stretch, reach for your phone to check on the world and see a tweet from someone you admire that is so backward and ignorant you want to go back to bed. https://t.co/nPXOeAebkb

— Ava DuVernay (@ava) January 14, 2020

With all due respect, I'm afraid that a meritocracy could work only if the game weren't rigged.

— Laura Lippman (@LauraMLippman) January 14, 2020

With the utmost respect, I think this is quite a bit unfair. When films created by people of color, irrespective of quality, constantly get overlooked by institutions that are predominately comprised of white men, there is an implicit bias at work here.

— Morgan Jerkins (@MorganJerkins) January 14, 2020

Quality is subjective. Your determination of quality may include bias of which you are not aware.

— Mindy McClard (@onceince) January 14, 2020

Sir, respectfully saying you as a white man can’t really say that. You had more advantages and opportunities than a person of color would have. They have been wrongfully held back in so many ways just because of their color skin.

— David Weissman (@davidmweissman) January 14, 2020

You're a very smart person ans one of my favourite writers, but you must acknowledge you've had an easier path in your career than a woman or POC, right?
White men disproportionately reward other white men, regardless of quality.

— Faron Gidge 📷 (He/Him) (@FaronGidge) January 14, 2020