The nomination of this British actress, who has been at the head of well-known actresses such as Viola Davis, surprised Hollywood last week and created controversy.
Because the feature film For Lesliewhere Andrea Riseborough plays an alcoholic mother filled with remorse after squandering her lottery fortune, did not shine at the box office.
With nearly US$27,000 in receipts, almost no one had seen it in theaters. And the production had not launched a costly marketing campaign, usually a key element for films hoping to win an Oscar.
Instead, Andrea Riseborough has enjoyed support from industry stars such as Gwyneth Paltrow, Kate Winslet and Edward Norton, who raved about her performance on social media.
Effective campaign or scam? After investigations, the Academy spared the goat and the cabbage.
The activity in question has not reached a level that requires the cancellation of the film’s nomination
the group responsible for the Oscars announced in a statement on Tuesday.
However, we discovered the tactics of the social media campaign […] which have raised concerns. These tactics are discussed directly with the responsible parties
the Academy clarified.
The diversity controversy
The Oscars are awarded by approximately 9,500 members of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, from 17 branches of the industry.
That of actors and actresses includes about 1,300 names: a candidate needs just over 200 votes to see his name on the nomination list.
It is these members who are alleged to have been the target of emails and social media posts in support of Andrea Riseborough.
One post on Instagram, for example, offered to endorse it, as American actresses Danielle Deadwyler and Viola Davis would be named anyway
for their performance in until AND The King’s wife.
But neither was shortlisted for the best actress Oscar, which has no African-American nominees this year. Enough to fuel controversy over the lack of diversity at these awards, repeated since 2015, and the hashtag #OscarsSoWhite.
According to the Academy, elements of the rules should be clarified to help create a better framework for a respectful, inclusive and impartial campaign
.
But no changes are expected until the conclusion of the next Academy Awards, which will be held on March 12.