Movieguide Awards' Dr. Ted Baehr Weighs in on #OscarsSoWhite Controversy

Dr. Ted Baehr, founder of the MOVIEGUIDE 24th Annual Faith & Values Awards Gala and Report to the Entertainment Industry, has weighed in on the #OscarsSoWhite controversy.

Dr. Baehr states, "The recent #OscarsSoWhite controversy reveals a diversity problem, but the solution presented by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences will not fix their problem, because their standards are not principle-based. The voters do not have an objective standard by which they all vote, and both the nominations, and the outcry for the lack of diversity in the nominations, reveals the flimsiness of the criteria for what good filmmaking is. As all Hollywood insiders know, the Academy is a club, and like all clubs, insider politics and favoritism reigns supreme. If they believe their problem is that white voters vote white, thus the solution to bring in more African American voters to even the playing field, they're simply encouraging prejudice voting based on skin color instead of solving the root issue."

Dr. Baehr continues, "Contrast this to the Movieguide Awards which avoids this issue altogether because it nominates actors and actresses based on principles that have nothing to do with who you know or what the color of your skin is. It is all about how spiritually inspiring the actor or actress's performance is. The Grace Award goes to 'an actor or actress in a motion picture or television program who exemplifies God's grace and mercy toward us as human beings through their outstanding performance.' Because of this standard, over the past decade, nearly 40% of the winners of the Grace Award have been non-white actors or actresses. Maybe if the Academy encouraged their voters to celebrate and award more positive, uplifting, broad audience movies and the actors that inspire us in them, they'll solve their diversity problems."

The MOVIEGUIDE 24th Annual Faith & Values Awards Gala and Report to the Entertainment Industry will be hosted by actor Joe Mantegna ("Criminal Minds") and co-hosted by actress Sadie Robertson ("Duck Dynasty," "God's Not Dead 2"). The Awards Gala will take place on February 5 at the Universal Hilton in Los Angeles. An hour-long version of the awards will be telecast on REELZ Channel on February 22 @ 4 pm PT/7 pm ET and on February 24 @ 9 pm PT /12 Midnight ET.

Check out this year's DIVERSE nominees for film, television, individual and ensemble performances at www.movieguideawards.com/2016-nominations

To post a comment, you must register and login.