After #OscarsSoWhite Backlash, Academy Approves Radical Changes to Improve Diversity
After facing harsh criticism–and a boycott by Spike Lee, Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith–for its all-white Oscar acting nominees for a second year in a row, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences plans to radically overhaul its voting and recruitment process in a bid to double the number of women and diverse members by 2020, according to Variety. The changes were announced Friday after an emergency meeting of the academy’s board on Thursday night.