Staff Reports
During an interview with PBS’s “Firing Line,” Richard Dreyfuss, an Academy and Golden Globe Award-winning actor, expressed his opposition to the Oscars’ new diversity guidelines, which require films to meet certain conditions to be eligible for Best Picture. Dreyfuss expressed his disgust with the new inclusion standards, which require having an actor from an underrepresented racial or ethnic group in a lead role or having at least 30% of the general ensemble cast from two underrepresented groups. He even went so far as to say that they make him nauseous.
Famous Actor Says What Normal Americans Are Thinking About Hollywood's New Diversity Rules https://t.co/uAJ8ao7nQk
— Townhall.com (@townhallcom) May 8, 2023
Dreyfuss believes that no one should be dictating to him, as an artist, what to do, and he declared that “No one can tell me what the latest, most current idea of what morality is.” Dreyfuss asserted that life should be allowed to unfold naturally and that emotions cannot be legislated. He also praised Laurence Olivier, an English actor who wore blackface in the 1965 British adaptation of Shakespeare’s “Othello,” stating that Olivier’s portrayal of a black man was exceptional.
Actor Richard Dreyfuss says Hollywood’s new inclusivity standards make him want to vomit. Good. More actors, directors and producers need to speak up. Not all great stories are diverse. Not all true stories are diverse. Forced diversity hurts everyone.
pic.twitter.com/UhU0htJdo3— Robby Starbuck (@robbystarbuck) May 7, 2023
Richard Dreyfuss, the actor known for his role in “Jaws,” remains skeptical about the rationale behind the Oscars’ new diversity regulations. He has raised concerns about the possibility of playing a black character if he is not black and whether a non-Jewish actor should be barred from playing the role of the Merchant of Venice. Dreyfuss views the film industry’s diversity requirements as condescending and insensitive.
It is worth noting that these new rules will take effect in 2024.
