Issa Rae went viral earlier this week after she threw shade at the Oscars as she announced the nominees for the Best Director category – which was all male.
“Congratulations to those men,” Rae said sarcastically, highlighting the fact that no women had been nominated for the category.
The Independent spoke to Rae at the Television Critics Association press tour, where she explained her comment:
“We were told – Jon Cho and I – to just banter for five seconds as the teleprompter loaded. So that was my banter. I didn’t lie. I said congratulations, and there were men there. So, that’s it,” she said. But she also had some choice words for the awards ceremony, which has been repeatedly slammed for its lack of diversity.
“I just think it’s unfortunate. The Academy needs to do better. I’m kind of tired of having the same conversation. I think every year, it’s something. So, for me, it’s just pointing it out when I see it. But I just don’t want to get too worked up about it. It is what it is at this point,” she shared.”
Rae concluded, “It’s just the conversation that’s happening behind the scenes are what I’m most interested in. So, yeah, I don’t want to say too much more about it. It’s annoying.”