Photo: Mark Wilson/Getty; Craig Sjodin/Getty
In his only mention of the 2019 Academy Awards online, Trump slammed theBlacKkKlansmandirector, whose film won Best Adapted Screenplay at Sunday night’s ceremony.
“Let’s all mobilize. Let’s all be on the right side of history. Make the moral choice between love versus hate. Let’s do the right thing!” he said, referencing his 1989 classicDo the Right Thing. The film examined race relations in a Brooklyn, New York, neighborhood and the tragic consequences of letting hate and racism go unchecked.
In response, Trump tweeted that it would “be nice if Spike Lee could read his notes, or better yet not have to use notes at all, whendoing his racist hiton your President.”
Trump went on to claim that he’s “done more for African Americans (Criminal Justice Reform, Lowest Unemployment numbers in History, Tax Cuts, etc.) than almost any other Pres!”
Earlier this month, the president also claimed that he hadtaken “care of” criminal justice reform.
When asked during an interview withCBS This Morningabout whether he was “sensitive” to the reasons why many viewers werechoosing to protest the NFLin support ofColin Kaepernick, Trump pointed out that last year he signed a criminal justice reform bill, the First Step Act, into law.
“I’m the one that had passed judicial reform,” Trump remarked on CBS. “President Obamatried. They all tried. Everybody wanted to do it. And I got it done and I’ve been, you know, really — a lot of people in the NFL have been calling and thanking me for it.”
Trump explained that he believed the NFL protests largely had to “do with reform,” adding, “I took care of that.”
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Lee’s powerful speech was not something he had rehearsed ahead of time, as just before his first ever win — he has previously been awarded an Honorary Oscar —The Daily ShowhostTrevor Noahspotted the directorquickly scribbling down his speechbackstage.
“While walking around backstage, I noticed a small figure hunched in a corner writing something,” he captioned a photo of the director which he shared on Instagram. “I got closer and realized it was Spike Lee writing an acceptance speech for his Oscar nominations. I asked him if I could take this picture to remember the moment and he said yes and ‘I hope I get to use this.’ ”
Although Lee picked up his first-ever Oscar on Sunday, the legendary director was far from thrilled thatGreen Bookwent home with the Best Picture trophy, beating out numerous films, includingBlacKkKlansman.
Several outlets, includingDeadlineand theAssociated Press, said that as soon asGreen Book’s win was announced, Lee stood up and angrily stormed towards the back of the Kodak Theater.
TheBlacKkKlansmandirector was then seen “intensely” speaking toJordan Peele.
Later in the evening, the director spoke to a room of reporters and revealed what was actually going through his mind afterGreen Book‘s win.
“Let me take another sip! [sips champagne] Next question! What did I do?” he sarcastically joked, as he danced in a circle with his glass, before expressing why he felt like the decision was a “bad call.”
Spike Lee.Matt Petit/A.M.P.A.S./Getty
“No, I thought it was courtside at the Garden, and the ref made a bad call. Courtside,” thedie-hard New York basketball team fansaid. “The world’s most famous arena, Madison Square Garden. Knicks coming back next year.”
When asked if winning Best Adapted Screenplay made up for his loss at the 1990 Oscars — his filmDo the Right Thinglost for Best Picture that year toDriving Miss Daisy— Lee quipped, “Every time somebody is driving somebody, I lose!”
“They changed the seating arrangement! But in ’89 I didn’t get nominated. So, this one we did.”
The 91st Academy Awards were broadcast live from Los Angeles on Sunday, Feb. 24, at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT on ABC.
source: people.com
