Tuesday on MSNBC’s “All In,” liberal documentary filmmaker Michael Moore discussed the controversy involving the lack of African-American Oscar nominations, which were announced earlier this week.
The absence of African-American nominees has led Jada Pinkett and Spike Lee to boycott the event.
Moore said based on his personal experience, there is indeed a lack of African-American in the industry that he makes his living.
Partial transcript as follows:
HAYES: So there was this #Oscarsowhite. There was real disgust I think frankly of the fact these nominations came out, there`s not a single African-American. This has been a persistent issue in the Academy.
Jada Pinkett called for a boycott. Spike Lee said he was going to join her. And you said — you tweeted I think that you`re also going to boycott.
MOORE: I said I stand with Spike and Jada. This is wrong, not just in terms of the Oscars, but really it`s the industry.
I mean, I just served a term recently on board of governors a couple years ago an the Oscars representing the documentary branch. And I know that amongst the board of governors and amongst the people that run the Academy, they are absolutely disgusted with this all white nature that keeps happening every year.
I think they`re going to fix it. I think — and I think I and others who symbolically stand with Spike and Jada will help this along.
But it`s the industry, Chris. It`s an industry that`s an all — it`s an industry that`s so white and so male, it.
HAYES: And the Academy, too. I mean, demographically is incredibly — the actual voters.
MOORE: Because they work in this industry. Literally, I can go to L.A. for two or three days, let`s say if I got to take some meetings for my next movie or whatever.
HAYES: Something so hilarious about hearing Michael Moore utter the phrase take some meetings.
MOORE: That should be filmed, actually. That is a documentary I should do, just like me going around Hollywood. But I literally can go there, they put me in a West Hollywood Hotel. I can go to a meeting in Century City, a meeting in Burbank, a meeting in Santa Monica and three days later, I`ve not encountered a single African-American in any position of any decision making power or authority.
It is stunning how segregated the town is, how the industry is. You know, it`s the General Motors of that town, yet, you couldn`t go to General Motors in Detroit and for three days at GM not encounter a black American who has some power there.
So it`s a real problem. It`s got to get corrected within the industry itself. And as Spike said today, there needs to be real affirmative action with this. And with race, with gender, you know. I ended up actually with this film coming out right now 11 of my people who have a producer title on it of the 11, eight are women. That`s a very rare thing. It`s rare — I`ve never had that many actually been able to — you`ve got to really work at it if you want to have that sort of diversity in your crew.
Follow Jeff Poor on Twitter @jeff_poor
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