Elon Musk has criticized the Academy for its 'messed up' standards regarding representation and inclusion for Best Picture nominees.
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences mandates that films must meet one of three diversity and inclusion criteria to be eligible for a Best Motion Picture nomination.
These criteria include having a lead actor from an underrepresented racial or ethnic group or ensuring that at least 30 percent of the ensemble cast comes from two or more underrepresented groups, such as women, racial minorities, LGBTQ+ individuals, or people with disabilities.
This is messed up. Should just be who is best, not best with an asterisk! https://t.co/Q2edmvekm4
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) March 3, 2025
Additionally, a film can qualify if its theme or narrative focuses on an underrepresented group.
The Tesla CEO, who has been vocal against diversity and inclusion mandates, is now criticizing the Oscars for potentially excluding the 'best' films and talents from receiving the Best Picture award.
"This is messed up. It should just be about who is the best, not the best with an asterisk!"
Musk expressed on his social media platform X, sharing a post that included screenshots of the Academy's guidelines.
The Academy introduced what some have referred to as a 'diversity quota' in 2020, following widespread anti-racism protests that arose after the police killing of George Floyd.
Musk's tweet received a strong wave of support from X users who labeled the diversity requirements as 'criminal' and an 'act of discrimination.'
"Elon is spot on; it should be about talent, not just fulfilling diversity quotas," one user commented. "
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Art deserves to be evaluated on its quality, not on race or background. It's time to abolish these absurd regulations and allow true talent to shine."
"Great films have a timeless quality. I still enjoy movies from 50 years ago, and the Oscar winners are typically the best," another user shared.
"Now, I can't imagine watching the mediocre films they produce, let alone revisiting them in the future." One user quipped, "Just rename it The 2025 DEI Awards." "DEI ruins everything!" another user chimed in.
"The woke movement has completely destroyed cinema; I honestly can't remember the last truly great film I saw, which is really disappointing," another user expressed.
One social media user even proposed that "any Oscars awarded during the diversity era should have an asterisk next to their name."
In 2020, Hollywood's motion picture academy implemented new eligibility criteria aimed at increasing diversity among Oscar nominees.
This change followed years of criticism regarding the lack of diversity among Academy members and the nominees and winners they choose.
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences mandates that films must meet one of three diversity and inclusion criteria to qualify for Best Motion Picture nomination.
The Academy states that its eligibility criteria for inclusion are intended to promote fair representation both on and off screen, aiming to better mirror the diverse global community.
However, filmmakers and critics have argued that these rules exclude popular films from contention for Best Motion Picture, such as the well-received biopic Reagan.
Starring Dennis Quaid as the former Republican president, Reagan failed to meet the Academy's inclusion criteria, resulting in its omission from the best picture nominations.
Howard A. Klausner, a screenwriter for the film, expressed his concerns about the requirements in an interview with the New York Post, stating that "under these new rules, many past winners would not have been acknowledged."
Klausner mentioned to the newspaper, "We were one of 116 films that were ruled out for consideration this year. Clearly, a discussion about this policy is necessary."
Others in the industry have supported his views, pointing out that under the current guidelines, beloved Best Motion Picture winners like The Godfather, Patton, and Rocky would also be ineligible for the award.
This year, the highly sought-after best picture Oscar was awarded to Anora, a compelling tale about a New York sex worker who unexpectedly finds a path to a new life after marrying a wealthy Russian client on a whim.
Anora triumphed in a competitive Oscars race that featured films like the papal thriller Conclave, the Jewish immigrant narrative The Brutalist, and the blockbuster musical Wicked.
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The film took home a total of five Academy Awards.
Alongside best picture, Sean Baker received accolades for best director, original screenplay, and editing, matching the record for the most Oscars won by an individual in a single year, a feat previously achieved by Walt Disney in 1954 for four different films.
The film's 25-year-old lead, Mikey Madison, was honored with the best actress award.
