Zelenskyy is denied TV appearance at Oscars – Variety

This was reported by Variety magazine, citing its own sources.

According to the publication, Mike Simpson, an agent of the Hollywood actor recruitment agency WME, asked the Academy to give Zelenskyy the floor during the award ceremony. However, his proposal was rejected. Representatives of the American Film Academy refused to comment on this information.

According to the publication, this is the second time the Motion Picture Academy has refused to allow Zelenskyy to speak. At the previous ceremony, in 2022, Oscar producer Will Packer opposed this. According to sources, he expressed concern that Hollywood is paying attention to Ukraine only because the victims of the conflict are white. At the same time, he believes that Hollywood ignores wars around the world that affect people of colour.

It is not known what justified the refusal this year.

• The 2023 Oscars are scheduled for March 13. It will be the 95th ceremony, and the award will be presented in 23 nominations. The final list of Oscar nominees in the Best Documentary Feature category includes the Ukrainian film A House Made of Splinters