Stephen King's Tweet About Diversity & Oscar Nominations Is Under Fire
Famous author Stephen King sent out two tweets that have caused a ton of backlash.
In response to the 2020 Oscar nominations, which have been universally called out for the lack of diversity in the categories, Stephen wrote, “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…I would never consider diversity in matters of art. Only quality. It seems to me that to do otherwise would be wrong.”
As soon as Stephen wrote this tweet, he began receiving backlash from public figures and Twitter users from across the US.
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
…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
Click inside to see some of the responses to Stephen King’s tweet…
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
As a fan, this is painful to read from you. It implies that diversity and quality cannot be synonymous. They are not separate things. Quality is everywhere but most industries only believe in quality from one demographic. And now, here you are.
— roxane gay (@rgay) 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
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
Damn, Stephen. Damn. I thought you were better than this. It should be obvious that diversity and quality *aren't separate qualities,* or in opposition to each other — except in the minds of bigots.
Damn.
— N. K. Jemisin (@nkjemisin) January 14, 2020
What systems do you think decided what “quality” is?
— Olivia A. Cole (@RantingOwl) January 14, 2020
The interesting thing is that diversity generally leads to more interesting, relatable, and higher quality art…
— Frederick Joseph (@FredTJoseph) January 14, 2020
Breaking news: People from minorities and marginalisation ALSO WRITE! Shocking!! THEY ALSO HAVE STORIES!!
— Priyanka Paul (@artwhoring) January 14, 2020