Tech billionaire Elon Musk has voiced strong opposition to the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences’ (AMPAS) “Representation and Inclusion Standards” for Oscar nominations in major categories such as Best Picture and acting awards. Musk criticised the Academy’s diversity guidelines, arguing that nominations should be based solely on merit rather than diversity quotas.
In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Musk wrote, “This is messed up. Should just be who is best, not best with an asterisk!” He was referring to the Academy’s policy requiring films to meet certain diversity standards in order to qualify for Best Picture consideration.
The Academy’s “Representation and Inclusion Standards,” introduced in 2020, aim to promote equitable representation in Hollywood by ensuring that films include cast and crew members from underrepresented racial, ethnic, gender, and disability groups. To be eligible for Best Picture, a film must meet at least two out of four criteria related to on-screen representation, creative leadership, industry access, and audience development.
According to the Academy’s official guidelines, at least one of the lead actors or significant supporting actors in a Best Picture-nominated film must be from an underrepresented racial or ethnic group. These groups include African American, Hispanic, Indigenous, Middle Eastern, South Asian, East Asian, and Pacific Islander communities.
Additionally, for ensemble casts, at least 30% of the actors in secondary or minor roles must come from at least two underrepresented groups, which also include women, the LGBTQ+ community, and people with cognitive or physical disabilities.
Beyond on-screen representation, the Academy also requires diversity behind the scenes. To qualify for Best Picture, studios must ensure that key creative positions—such as directors, cinematographers, editors, and composers—include members from these groups. Furthermore, paid internship and apprenticeship programs should actively recruit from underrepresented backgrounds.
Musk’s criticism highlights a growing debate in Hollywood over the balance between artistic merit and inclusivity. While the Academy argues that these measures create a more inclusive and representative industry, critics like Musk believe they compromise artistic freedom and dilute the significance of the awards.
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Supporters of the inclusion standards argue that Hollywood has historically marginalized minorities, making such policies necessary to level the playing field. They claim that ensuring diverse representation does not mean sacrificing quality but rather broadening the scope of storytelling.
However, Musk and others opposed to these guidelines argue that forcing diversity criteria undermines the fundamental principle of awarding the “best” in filmmaking. “The criteria for nominations should simply be focused on who is the best,” Musk stated.
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