It's been one hell of a year for Joaquin Phoenix, and the year has only just begun! After his big victory at the Golden Globe Awards for best actor and bagging the Critic's Choice Award, he won a BAFTA for his epic performance in Joker, once more.
© Twitter
But what the audience looks forward to most, when Phoenix wins an award, is mostly his daring speech he makes at the award ceremony and I feel he outdid himself at the BAFTA award ceremony with his speech, more than what he did at the Golden Globe Awards. And as usual, he used his BAFTA win for a cause.
Last time if you remember watching the Golden Globe Award ceremony, the actor criticised a lot of his fellow actors for taking their private jets out and flying all the way to Palm Springs. He called them out for doing so, in the context of climate change that's making our planet suffer. His speech at BAFTA, though, was not on climate change but the amount of racism Hollywood displays and how there's a lack of diversity.
© Twitter
So here are a few things Joaquin said in his speech and brought out the outright racism existing in the industry.
"The BAFTAS have already been very supportive of my career and Iâm deeply appreciative. But I have to say I also feel conflicted, because so many of my fellow actors that are deserving donât have that same privilege."
Joaquin Phoenix accepts his Leading Actor award for his performance in @jokermovie #EEBAFTAs #BAFTAs pic.twitter.com/1nK49CjrJo
â BAFTA (@BAFTA) February 2, 2020Of late, BAFTA has been in the limelight for being criticised for racism, as only white actors/directors would win awards. The hashtag #BAFTAsowhite was trending on Twitter, claiming the white folks bagged most nominations while others were snubbed.
âI think that we send a very clear message to people of color that youâre not welcome here. I think thatâs the message that weâre sending to people that have contributed so much to our medium and our industry and in ways that we benefit from.â
âThis is not a self righteous condemnation, because Iâm ashamed to say that Iâm part of the problem. I have not done everything in my power to ensure that the sets I work on are inclusive. but I think itâs more than just having sets that are multicultural. I think that we have to really do the hard work to truly understand systemic racism,â Phoenix further added in his speech.
© Warner Bros Pictures
While ending the speech, when the audience was numb in silence listening to him attentively, he said "I think that it is the obligation of the people that have created and perpetuate and benefit from a system of oppression to be the ones that dismantle it, so thatâs on us.â This got the crowd roaring, for his outstanding honesty that he's displayed ever-so-often during award functions. Here's wishing we see more of the superstar this year!

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