Director Spike Lee unimpressed by Green Book’s Best Picture win

After missing out on the Best Picture prize, Spike Lee made it clear he was not impressed by the choice of winner.

less than 2 min read

February 26, 2019 - 7:22AM

Let it be known: Spike Lee is no fan of yesterday’s Best Picture Oscar winner Green Book.

Clutching his own Oscar for Best Adapted Screenplay for BlacKkKlansman backstage at yesterday’s ceremony, Lee was asked by a pair of BBC reporters why the rival film “offended” him so.

“Offend? Are you British? Are you British?”

The reporters confirmed they were.

“Well let me give you a British answer: It wasn’t my cup of tea,” said Lee, laughing uproariously and momentarily sprinting away from the cameras.

“No my cup of tea!”

"Not my cup of tea"
Spike Lee on the film that beat him to the top spot at the Oscars

[Tap to expand] https://t.co/xknKGldx9w pic.twitter.com/GzyfcKNkPj
— BBC News (World) (@BBCWorld) February 25, 2019

Earlier, Lee told reporters he was on his sixth champagne when he walked into the media room for post-award interviews and was asked how he felt about Green Book winning.

Spike Lee in the media room after his win. Photo: Frederic J. Brown /AFP

“I thought I was courtside at the garden, the ref made a bad call!” he said.

His comments came after a Deadline reporter revealed that Lee was “clearly furious” inside the Dolby Theatre when the Best Picture winner was announced.

Weâ€™re hearing from an insider that when #GreenBook was announced the winner, Spike Lee was "clearly furious." He was pacing the aisle and stormed to the back of the auditorium. When he came back, he turned his back to the stage during the speech. #Oscars https://t.co/xoeWr56iRK
— Deadline Hollywood (@DEADLINE) February 25, 2019

“He turned around and appeared to get into an intense conversation with Jordan Peele, who was behind him,” the reporter claimed.

“He was pacing the aisle and stormed to the back of the auditorium. When he came back, he turned his back to the stage during the speech.”

Spike Lee was visibly angry when "Green Book" was announced as the winner of best picture at the Oscars, waving his arms in disgust and appearing to try to storm out of the Dolby Theatre before he was stopped at the doors. He returned to his seat when the speeches were over.
— Andrew Dalton (@andyjamesdalton) February 25, 2019

Lee’s Oscar win for Best Adapted Screenplay helped settle a grudge he’s held against the Academy ever since his 1989 movie, Do The Right Thing, was overlooked for a Best Picture nomination in what is considered one of the biggest Oscars snubs of all times.

The Best Picture Oscar in 1990 went to Driving Miss Daisy, a fact Lee joked about backstage.

“Every time somebody’s driving somebody I lose,” Lee said, referencing both Driving Miss Daisy and Green Book.

“They changed the seating arrangement (this time).”