This awards season seems to be all about the social justice speeches, which is pretty remarkable considering that at the announcement of yesterday’s Oscar nominees, not one person of colour was in the acting categories, and not one woman was nominated outside of the acting categories!
Where Maggie Gyllenhaal, Julianne Moore, Joanne Froggatt, Patricia Arquette, and Amy Adams lead, so Jessica Chastain follows, making a speech at the Critics’ Choice Awards when she went up to get the award for MVP (most valued player, recognizing her for all the good films she’s been in this year).
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But instead of having a go at the Oscar nominations, which were also announced yesterday, she used Martin Luther King Jr’s birthday as a way to talk about the inequalities faced by those in Hollywood (and therefore everyone looking to Hollywood for a bit of acknowledgement and representation).
After saying all her thanks, she said, to much applause: ‘Today is Martin Luther King Jr.'s birthday, so it got me thinking about our need to build the strength of diversity in our industry, and to stand together against homophobic, sexist, misogynistic, anti-Semitic and racist agendas.’
Over the cheers, she said: ‘I'm an optimist and I can't help but feel hopeful about the future of film, especially looking at all of the beautiful people in this room.
‘Martin Luther King Jr. said, ‘Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter.' and I would like to encourage everyone in this room to please speak up. Thank you.’
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This article originally appeared on The Debrief.