Variety: Daniel Dae Kim, Joy Villa, Erika Alexander and More Speak Out During House Judiciary Committee Hearing on the Lack of Diversity in Media
Daniel Dae Kim, Joy Villa, Erika Alexander and More Speak Out During House Judiciary Committee Hearing on the Lack of Diversity in Media
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Villa, who attended the hearing in-person, disagreed with the Academy’s updated guidelines which mandate diversity in the Oscars nomination process. “This is wrong. I’d like to be hired for the role, because I’m the best person for the job, not because my color or gender checks a mandated box,” she said.
The artist, who introduced herself as “a conservative actor,” spoke to the danger of so-called cancel culture and highlighted the importance of not only celebrating racial diversity but accepting differing political views.
“This hearing is meaningless and benign if it doesn’t also address the active canceling of diverse voices going on right now,” she said. “Yes, we need racial and ethnic diversity, and representation matters. But diversity is not only about color, gender or how able-bodied someone is or isn’t. We have protected clauses in our country under federal law for race, color, national origin, religion, sex, age sexuality and disability — it’s time to include political affiliations.”
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Watch the full session below.
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