Looks like, Oscars this year, has turned into a platform to slam the U.S President Donald Trump and his political moves.
To protest, or not to protest- that is the question! As the film fraternity gathers in Los Angeles for the 'big night,' the British stars weigh into the debate.
At a pre-Oscar's party held in honour of this year's British nominees, several UK stars split over the issue, as their American counterparts, reports Telegraph.co.uk.
'Homeland' fame David Harewood, urging the would-be Oscar winners to speak out against Trump's policies, said, "Any attempt to bash Trump is good."
Cara Speller, producer of nominated animated short film 'Pear Cider And Cigarettes,' feels artists have a "responsibility to speak out."
But, Neil Corbould, Oscar nominee in the 'Special Effect' category for 'Rogue One: A Star Wars Story,' feels it to be a wrong platform to make political comments.
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"It should be for the film people I think. Political is another platform," he said.
Meanwhile, director David Mackenzie, whose 'Hell Or High Water' has earned four Academy Award nominations, said he feared any political statements would be diluted by the "babble" surrounding the Oscars- "It's interesting. I think there's a lot of politicising going on at the moment. I hope the message doesn't get diluted by too much babble so I have mixed feelings about that."
Going by the trend, set by Meryl Streep at the Golden Globes Awards, the 89th Academy Awards ceremony, at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles, is expected to be dominated by speeches against Tump's policies, particularly travel ban, revoking of environmental protection laws, transgender bathroom rollback and attacks on the press.