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Like Richard Dreyfuss.
Legendary actor Richard Dreyfuss condemned Hollywoodâs new inclusivity standards in strong terms during a recent interview, claiming they make him "vomit."
Dreyfuss, whoâs starred in "Jaws," "Close Encounters of the Third Kind," and many other classic Hollywood films, blistered the new diversity and inclusion guidelines that will be implemented at the Academy Awards starting next year.
The guidelines must be adhered to by any film in the running for a "Best Picture" Oscar
The anchor stated, "Starting in 2024, films will be required to meet new inclusion standards to be eligible for the Academy Awards for âBest Picture.â Theyâll have to have a certain percentage of actors or crew from underrepresented racial or ethnic groups."
She asked, "What do you think of these new inclusion standards for films?"
Not holding back, Dreyfuss declared, "They make me vomit."
Defending his total rejection of the concept, he said, "Because this is an art form, itâs also a form of commerce and it makes money, but itâs an art. And no one should be telling me, as an artist, that I have to give in to the latest most current idea of what morality is."
The actor continued, claiming that such guidelines stifle creativity and risk. "And what are we risking? Are we really risking hurting peopleâs feelings? You canât legislate that? And you have to let life be life."
Dreyfuss further claimed he doesnât believe any group in society today that should be given special treatment. He said, "And Iâm sorry, I donât think thereâs a minority or a majority in the country that has to be catered to like that."
The actor then defended Hollywood legend Lawrence Olivierâs "Blackface" rendition of Shakespeareâs "Othello" in 1968.
He stated, "Lawrence Olivier was the last White actor to play âOthello,â and he did it in 1965. And he did it in âBlackface.â And he played a Black man brilliantly."
He conveyed his point with a few rhetorical questions, asking , "Am I being told that I will never have a chance to play a Black man? Is someone else being told that if theyâre not Jewish, they shouldnât play the âMerchant of Venice?â Are we crazy? Do we not know that art is art?"
Dreyfuss wasnât done condemning the inclusion guidelines, saying, "This is so patronizing. Itâs so thoughtless and treating people like children."
Hoover asked the actor if the history of slavery and racism in America might justify making "Blackface" a taboo, though Dreyfuss claimed he didnât think so.
Again, he said, "Because itâs patronizing. Because it says weâre so fragile that we canât have our feelings hurt. We have to anticipate having our feelings hurt, our childrenâs feelings hurt. We donât know how to stand up and bop the bully in the face."
Cause I can smell your fear from here.