Celebrities Who Criticized The Oscars — When every acting nominee at the 88th Oscars was white two years running, industry voices escalated from criticism to boycott. Spike Lee and Jada Pinkett Smith led the charge.

Criticism starves ceremonies of easy narratives. Vacant red carpets became the visual symbol of celebrities who criticized the Oscars until academies answered diversity demands publicly.

Marlon Brando sent Sacheen Littlefeather to decline his 1973 Oscar onstage. That moment remains the template for celebrities who criticized the Oscars through live telecast activism.

George C. Scott called the Oscars a two-hour meat parade and slept through his 1971 Best Actor win. His blunt quote still anchors lists of celebrities who criticized the Oscars.

After OscarsSoWhite criticism, the Academy doubled female and minority invitees in 2016 and 2017 classes. Reform followed because celebrities who criticized the Oscars refused to stay quiet.