The Joker actor used his BAFTAs acceptance speech to speak on whitewashing in the industry over the weekend.
Choosing to use his global platform to call out a very real issue within the entertainment industry as a whole, Joaquin Phoenix spoke on discrimination and systemic racism at this year’s BAFTAs. Winning the Best Actor BAFTA for his work in Joker, Phoenix admitted to feeling uncomfortable with the amount of whitewashing at play in his industry.
“I also feel conflicted,” he said after noting how grateful he was to receive the accolade. “We send a very clear message to people of colour that, ‘You’re not welcome here’.”
“I don’t think anybody wants a hand out or preferential treatment,” he said. “People just want to be acknowledged and appreciated and respected for their work.”
Phoenix went on to express shame about his role played within the film industry, admitting he has not done enough to advocate for diversity.
“I’m ashamed to say that I’m part of the problem, because I’ve not ensured that the sets I’ve worked on are inclusive.”
“We really have to do the hard work to truly understand systemic racism.” he said. “I think that it is the obligation of the people who have created and perpetuated and benefited from a system of oppression to dismantle it. That’s on us.”
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“Coming from the colonies, we know it’s been a hard week for you guys.” he said. “It’s been very nice to take a little bit of your gold – back home, where it belongs.”
