Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has been denied the opportunity to speak at the 2023 Oscars. The producers of the show once again considered it completely inappropriate, as they did last year, despite the fact that the largest European film festivals had previously given him the floor.
Recall that in 2022, Volodymyr Zelensky appeared via satellite at the Cannes and Venice Film Festivals, as well as at the Grammy Awards ceremony.
Last year, Oscar producer Will Packer also turned down an offer for the Ukrainian leader to speak. Sources say that Packer was unhappy that Hollywood was showering Ukraine with attention just because “the victims of the conflict are white.” Hollywood has repeatedly ignored wars around the world that affect people of color, he argued.
Meanwhile, the Film Academy is not the only American organization that refused Vladimir Zelensky. In September, his team applied to the Toronto Film Festival with a request to show their leader, but they were denied.
The 2023 Oscars will take place on March 12.