Joaquin Phoenix used his acceptance speech at this year’s Baftas to highlight the damning lack of diversity during this year’s awards season.
While he stated he was grateful for the Best Actor award, the Joker star added: “I also feel conflicted – we send a very clear message to people of colour that ‘you’re not welcome here.”
The trend “#BaftasSoWhite” which dominated Twitter after the announcement of this year’s nominations last month due to a severe lack of diversity and representation across the acting categories.
Download the new Independent Premium app
Sharing the full story, not just the headlines
“I don’t think anybody wants a handout or preferential treatment,” he continued. “People just want to be acknowledged and appreciated and respected for their work.
“I’m ashamed to say that I’m part of the problem, because I’ve not ensured that the sets I’ve worked on are inclusive.”
Baftas 2020: The red carpet
Show all 38
Baftas 2020: The red carpet
1/38
Joaquin Phoenix
REUTERS
2/38
Scarlett Johansson
PA
3/38
Saoirse Ronan
PA
4/38
Florence Pugh
PA
5/38
Al Pacino
REUTERS
6/38
Renee Zellweger
PA
7/38
Olivia Colman
PA
8/38
Charlize Theron
EPA
9/38
Daisy Ridley
EPA
10/38
Prince William, Duke of Cambridge and Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge
REUTERS
11/38
Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge
REUTERS
12/38
Taron Egerton
AFP via Getty Images
13/38
Daniel Kaluuya
Joel C Ryan/Invision/AP
14/38
Margot Robbie
PA
15/38
Emilia Clarke
PA
16/38
Rooney Mara
PA
17/38
Robert De Niro
PA
18/38
John Boyega
REUTERS
19/38
Rebel Wilson
AFP via Getty Images
20/38
Adam Driver and Joanne Tucker
EPA
21/38
Greta Gerwig
AFP via Getty Images
22/38
Alice Eve
PA
23/38
Ella Balinska
AFP via Getty Images
24/38
Naomi Ackie
AFP via Getty Images
25/38
Anna Elisabet Eberstein and Hugh Grant
REUTERS
26/38
Song Kang Ho and Bong Joon-ho
AFP via Getty Images
27/38
Zoe Kravitz
AFP via Getty Images
28/38
Lily-Rose Depp
PA
29/38
Gillian Anderson
AFP via Getty Images
30/38
Jessie Buckley
REUTERS
31/38
Joshua Jackson and Jodie Turner-Smith
PA
32/38
Naomie Harris
REUTERS
33/38
Alex Wolff
PA
34/38
Laura Dern
Joel C Ryan/Invision/AP
35/38
Graham Norton
EPA
36/38
Micheal Ward
REUTERS
37/38
Oliver Cheshire and Pixie Lott
Joel C Ryan/Invision/AP
38/38
Taika Waititi
EPA
1/38
Joaquin Phoenix
REUTERS
2/38
Scarlett Johansson
PA
3/38
Saoirse Ronan
PA
4/38
Florence Pugh
PA
5/38
Al Pacino
REUTERS
6/38
Renee Zellweger
PA
7/38
Olivia Colman
PA
8/38
Charlize Theron
EPA
9/38
Daisy Ridley
EPA
10/38
Prince William, Duke of Cambridge and Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge
REUTERS
11/38
Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge
REUTERS
12/38
Taron Egerton
AFP via Getty Images
13/38
Daniel Kaluuya
Joel C Ryan/Invision/AP
14/38
Margot Robbie
PA
15/38
Emilia Clarke
PA
16/38
Rooney Mara
PA
17/38
Robert De Niro
PA
18/38
John Boyega
REUTERS
19/38
Rebel Wilson
AFP via Getty Images
20/38
Adam Driver and Joanne Tucker
EPA
21/38
Greta Gerwig
AFP via Getty Images
22/38
Alice Eve
PA
23/38
Ella Balinska
AFP via Getty Images
24/38
Naomi Ackie
AFP via Getty Images
25/38
Anna Elisabet Eberstein and Hugh Grant
REUTERS
26/38
Song Kang Ho and Bong Joon-ho
AFP via Getty Images
27/38
Zoe Kravitz
AFP via Getty Images
28/38
Lily-Rose Depp
PA
29/38
Gillian Anderson
AFP via Getty Images
30/38
Jessie Buckley
REUTERS
31/38
Joshua Jackson and Jodie Turner-Smith
PA
32/38
Naomie Harris
REUTERS
33/38
Alex Wolff
PA
34/38
Laura Dern
Joel C Ryan/Invision/AP
35/38
Graham Norton
EPA
36/38
Micheal Ward
REUTERS
37/38
Oliver Cheshire and Pixie Lott
Joel C Ryan/Invision/AP
38/38
Taika Waititi
EPA
“We really have to do the hard work to truly understand systemic racism. I think that it is the obligation of the people who have created and perpetuated and benefited from a system of oppression to dismantle it… so that’s on us.”
The actor received a huge round of applause from the crowd in response to his speech.
Earlier in the evening, Brad Pitt – who won Best Supporting Actress or Once Upon a Time in Hollywood – delivered an acceptance speech, via Margot Robbie, that poked fun at Brexit and Prince Harry.
You can follow the awards live here. For the full list of winners, visit here.
Subscribe to Independent Premium to debate the big issues
Want to discuss real-world problems, be involved in the most engaging discussions and hear from the journalists? Start your Independent Premium subscription today.
Independent Premium Comments can be posted by members of our membership scheme, Independent Premium.
It allows our most engaged readers to debate the big issues, share their own experiences, discuss
real-world solutions, and more. Our journalists will try to respond by joining the threads when
they can to create a true meeting of independent Premium. The most insightful comments on all subjects
will be published daily in dedicated articles. You can also choose to be emailed when someone replies
to your comment.
The existing Open Comments threads will continue to exist for those who do not subscribe to
Independent Premium. Due to the sheer scale of this comment community, we are not able to give each post
the same level of attention, but we have preserved this area in the interests of open debate. Please
continue to respect all commenters and create constructive debates.
Comments
Share your thoughts and debate the big issues
Please be respectful when making a comment and adhere to our Community Guidelines.
You can find our Community Guidelines in full here.
- -1) ? 'active' : ''">
Newest first
- -1) ? 'active' : ''">
Oldest first
- -1) ? 'active' : ''">
Most liked
{{/moreThanOne}}Please be respectful when making a comment and adhere to our Community Guidelines.
You can find our Community Guidelines in full here.
- -1) ? 'active' : ''">
Newest first
- -1) ? 'active' : ''">
Oldest first
- -1) ? 'active' : ''">
Most liked
{{/moreThanOne_p}}Follow comments
Vote
Report Comment
Subscribe to Independent Premium to debate the big issues
Want to discuss real-world problems, be involved in the most engaging discussions and hear from the journalists? Start your Independent Premium subscription today.
Already registered? Log inReport Comment
Delete Comment
About The Independent commenting
Independent Premium Comments can be posted by members of our membership scheme, Independent Premium. It allows our most engaged readers to debate the big issues, share their own experiences, discuss real-world solutions, and more. Our journalists will try to respond by joining the threads when they can to create a true meeting of independent Premium. The most insightful comments on all subjects will be published daily in dedicated articles. You can also choose to be emailed when someone replies to your comment.
The existing Open Comments threads will continue to exist for those who do not subscribe to Independent Premium. Due to the sheer scale of this comment community, we are not able to give each post the same level of attention, but we have preserved this area in the interests of open debate. Please continue to respect all commenters and create constructive debates.