Actor Charlotte Rampling says #OscarsSoWhite movement is ‘racist against whites’

ACCLAIMED actor Charlotte Rampling has weighed into the Oscars diversity row, saying the campaign is racist against whites.

‘Perhaps the black actors did not deserve it’

ACADEMY Awards nominee Charlotte Rampling claims the #OscarsSoWhite movement is racist against whites.

The British star, who is nominated in the Best Actor category, has hit back at those threatening to boycott the 2016 Academy Awards due to the lack of black people short-listed for gongs.

Asked about her views during an interview to promote film 45 Years, for which she’s nominated, the 69-year-old said: “It is racist to whites.”

“You can never know for sure, but perhaps black actors did not deserve to be in the final list,” Rampling told Europe 1 radio, speaking in French.

Asked if she felt that the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences should introduce quotas, she responded: “Why classify people? These days everyone is more or less accepted.

“People will always say: ‘Him, he’s less handsome’; ‘Him, he’s too black’; ‘He is too white’ ... someone will always be saying ‘You are too’ [this or that] ... But do we have to take from this that there should be lots of minorities everywhere?”

She refused to be drawn however when the interviewer explained that black members of the film industry feel like a minority, responding: “No comment.”

Charlotte Rampling’s Oscar nomination for the film 45 Years is announced by John Krasinski and Academy president Cheryl Boone Isaacs. Picture: AFP/Mark Ralston

Will Smith is the latest celeb to get behind the proposed boycott.

The Men in Black star said it would be “awkward” to attend in light of the ongoing debate about the lack of diversity among this year’s nominees.

“My wife’s not going. It would be awkward to show up with Charlize [Theron]. We’ve discussed it. We’re part of this community. But at this current time, we’re uncomfortable to stand there and say this is OK,” Smith told Good Morning America anchor Robin Roberts.

The actor, who many predicted would receive an Academy Award nomination this year for his role in Concussion, said diversity was “the American superpower” and that, “at its best, Hollywood creates the imagery for that beauty”.

Commenting on this year’s 20 major acting nominations which, for the second year in a row, are all white, he added: “It’s not reflecting that beauty.”

“Everybody is beautiful and deserving and fantastic, but it feels like it’s going the wrong direction.

“There’s a regressive slide towards separatism, towards racial and religious disharmony and that’s not the Hollywood I want to leave behind.”

Will Smith has confirmed that he will boycott this year’s Oscars. Picture: AFP/Getty/Jason Merritt

Director Spike Lee also declared he would not attend or watch the February 28 ceremony.

Comedian Chris Rock is facing calls from fellow celebrities to withdraw from his role as this year’s host as the row intensifies.

Overnight, the Oscars pledged to double the number of female and minority members by 2020, and will immediately diversify its leadership by adding three new seats to its board of governors.

This article originally appeared in The Sun.

Originally published as Actor Charlotte Rampling says #OscarsSoWhite movement is ‘racist against whites’