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Ice Cube Responds To ‘Straight Outta Compton’ Oscar Snub

By Niki Cruz
Published on: 08:13 PST, Jan 15, 2016

For the second time this year, #OscarsSoWhite is trending after the Academy has failed to nominate any actors of color in the acting categories. Of the films and performances that have been snubbed are, Ice Cube’s N.W.A. biopic Straight Outta Compton, which wound up making back a huge profit, and captured audiences and critics in a big way.

Straight Outta Compton hasn’t been a favorite to snag nominations at this point in the award season, because it hasn’t gone on to receive many nominations in the award shows that have preceded the Oscars. Still, it’s among the movies that was put into the conversation when considering the diversity problem that the Academy is having with their nominations. That said, it did go on to receive a nomination for Best Original Screenplay. That still doesn’t seem to be enough for fans of the film, and some Oscar prognosticators agree.

With all of that considered, produce, and actor Ice Cube responded to the trend and the snub his movie received. Cube went on The Wendy Williams Show to promote his new comedy Ride Along 2, but the Oscar snub was brought up during the conversation. When Williams said that she was surprised the movie didn’t receive more Oscar nominations, Ice Cube agreed with her, but also said that he wasn’t surprised how things turned out.

“I’m not pissed. You know, I’m not surprised. It’s the Oscars, you know, they do what they do. The people loved the movie, the people supported the movie — No. 1 at the box office, over $200 million worldwide. I can’t be mad, you know? I can’t be mad.”

Cube’s son O’Shea Jackson Jr. stars in the movie as he portrays Cube in the film during his rise to fame in the rap group N.W.A. During his rounds of promotion, Jackson Jr. said he wanted to see more stories of triumph. In an interview with Entertainment Weekly statedsaid of his hopes for the future.

“Straight Outta Compton speaks to triumph. When it’s doubtful, when nobody is on your side, when your back is against the wall, you triumph and make it through. Showing growth through movies promotes growth. I want more movies like Straight Outta Compton. Showing our stories of triumph, we’ll make it through and we’ll get to something better.”

Ice Cube’s comments on The Wendy Williams Show comes on the heels of #OscarsSoWhite, which was started by those criticizing the Academy Awards choices for Best Actress and Best Actors and other important categories that saw no African American talent getting nominated.

As the Inquisitr reported, the Academy president Cheryl Boone Isaacs made a statement about the lack of diversity at the Oscars. “Of course I am disappointed, but this is not to take away the greatness (of the films nominated). This has been a great year in film, it really has across the board. You are never going to know what is going to appear on the sheet of paper until you see it.”

Of the lack of minorities in prominent categories, she said, “We have got to speed it up.” Last year, Isaac’s made a similar statement when #OscarsSoWhite started to trend on Twitter, but this year she sounds a bit more defeated. At least she’s responding to the controversy rather than ignoring it.

Some have blamed the Oscars for the lack of diversity, but some are saying the blame should be passed to the executives who are making casting decisions in Hollywood. Studio heads and casting agents are being asked to make choices so that all walks of life can be reflected in film.

[Photo by Jason Kempin/Getty Images]

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