“Am I being told that I will never have a chance to play a Black man?” asks Richard Dreyfuss of the new diversity rules in Hollywood.
Richard Dreyfuss Wants Artist Freedom
The veteran actor, who has been in the business for over 30 years, has trouble adjusting to a life where people do something about being offended. He criticized the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences’ diversity and inclusion standards.
The equality of it makes him want to “vomit.” Dreyfuss told his truth on PBS’s “Firing Line With Margaret Hoover.” He covered several topics, including politics, education, and some of his moments in the industry.
But when it came to the Academy Awards, Dreyfuss was peeved! “It’s an art. As an artist, no one should tell me that I must give in to the latest, most current idea of morality. What are we risking?” he said when asked about the new diversity inclusion.
Dreyfuss’ comments came off as if he was not concerned with the feelings of all the “diverse” people offended by his clunky statement. “Are we risking hurting people’s feelings? You can’t legislate that,” he says to Hoover.
Let Life; Life Says, Richard Dreyfuss
The actor was adamant that there is no divide. “You have to let life be life. I’m sorry, I don’t think there is a minority or majority in the country that has to be catered to like that.”
The rules Dreyfuss is trying to avoid were implemented in 2020 during the pandemic. The rules focus on expanding diversity on screen and in positions of representation like department heads that can provide industry access to those minorities to have a voice.
Dreyfuss’s comments make it seem like he doesn’t want to hear that. He even used Laurence Oliver’s role as a blackface Othello as an example because he just wasn’t tone-deaf enough.
“He played a Black man brilliantly. Am I being told I will never have a chance to play a Black man?” he asked seriously. “Is someone else being told they shouldn’t play [in] ‘The Merchant of Venice’? If they’re not Jewish. Are we crazy?”
Dreyfuss was so fired up he slammed the academy for the move. “This is so condescending. It’s so thoughtless and treating people like children.”
Richard Dreyfuss Sees A Bunch Of Cowards
Dreyfuss starred in films like America Graffiti and Mr. Holland’s Opus, where he played the father of a child who falls into one or more categories. His son in the film was deaf! One of the rare times that sign language can be seen on screen at the time.
After playing a role like that, Dreyfuss believes putting minorities in the spotlight via the new rules is gutless.
“I think we’re cowards. Republicans send their children to schools hoping and praying that their children will come back. Republicans and Democrats send their children to school urgently, praying that their children come back, Democrats,” he explained with a pointless reference.
Art is art, though, guys.