Jessica Chastain says she is floored by the amount of racist comments directed at her following a recent speech encouraging more diversity in Hollywood.
While accepting her Most Valuable Player Award at last Thursday’s Critics’ Choice Awards ceremony, Jessica Chastain urged Hollywood executives and actors to support more diversity.
Jessica Chastain was responding to the underwhelming recognition of actors of color in this year’s Academy Awards nominations.
“Some people had taken my speech and then made it about awards — like SAG Awards or Oscars. That’s not what my speech was about,” Chastain told the Associated Press.
“To me awards are just a reflection. It’s just a symptom of the disease and the disease is in the industry. If we had more diversity in our films it would be reflected in diversity in the nominees.”
This is the #CriticsChoiceAwards speech that made Jessica Chastain a target of online trolls: http://t.co/DtA6Hco8YM pic.twitter.com/uSuQarfLQj
— MAKERS (@MAKERSwomen) January 22, 2015
During her speech, Jessica Chastain urged her colleagues to “stand together against homophobic, sexist, misogynistic, anti-Semitic and racist agendas.” Her speech led Oprah Winfrey to mouth “wow” at the conclusion of her remarks.
Jessica Chastain conceded that she was shocked by the slew of “strange” messages she has received in the aftermath of the speech.
“I’ve had really terrible people who are racists comment on the speech and say really terrible things. I’m understanding that some people in this world, how much hate they can have,” said Jessica Chastain.
Two-time Oscar nominee Jessica Chastain says she doesn't know how nominations are worked out http://t.co/vjNVeHhFsV pic.twitter.com/d0MazRKsjV
— Sky News (@SkyNews) January 21, 2015
Jessica Chastain went on to say she has also received much support from those in the industry who agree with her views.
While accepting her award, Jessica Chastain said some things need to change in Hollywood and “we all need to work together to fix it.”
