Clooney criticizes Oscars 2016

Oscar-winning actor George Clooney has accused the Academy Awards of “moving in the wrong direction”.

He accuses Academy awards of the lack of diversity.

For the second year running, no black or minority actors have been nominated in the four Oscars acting categories.

Clooney, who has won two Academy Awards, said: “We need to get better at this. We used to be better at it.”

Nyong’o wrote on Instagram that she stands with those “calling for change” and that the awards should be a “diverse reflection of the best of what our art has to offer today”.

Jada Pinkett Smith has also refused to attend because of the number of white nominees, saying in a video message on Facebook that people of colour should disregard the awards.

Director Spike Lee, who was awarded an honorary Oscar in November, is among those boycotting the ceremony, saying on Instagram that he “cannot support” the “lily white” Oscars.

Clooney said: “If you think back 10 years ago, the Academy was doing a better job.”

“I don’t think it’s a problem of who you’re picking as much as it is: How many options are available to minorities in film, particularly in quality films?”

He said that the industry isn’t representing them well enough, arguing that Creed, Concussion, Beasts of No Nation and Straight Outta Compton should have received more nominations.

“There were certainly black nominees around 2004, like Don Cheadle, Morgan Freeman,” said Clooney.

“And you feel like we’re moving in the wrong direction.

There were nominations left off the table.

By the way, we’re talking about African Americans.

For Hispanics, it’s even worse. We need to get better at this. We used to be better at it.”