Idris Elba Are Among the Record 683 Invited to Academy After #OscarsSoWhite Controversy

The Oscars are not so white anymore! The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences invited a record 683 industry people to join on Wednesday, June 29, following the #OscarsSoWhite controversy this past awards season.

According to a press release, 46 percent of the invitees are female and 41 percent are minorities, and they represent 59 countries. Idris Elba, Chadwick Boseman, Eva Mendes, America Ferrera and Anika Noni Rose are among those invited.

The announcement comes after Academy president Cheryl Boone Isaacs released a statement in January pledging to make changes after the group was criticized for its lack of diversity after this year’s nominees were announced. For the second year in a row, the nominees for all 20 acting categories were white, and critical darlings Creed and Straight Outta Compton received only one nod each, while Beasts of No Nation was shut out.

"While we celebrate their extraordinary achievements, I am both heartbroken and frustrated about the lack of inclusion. This is a difficult but important conversation, and it’s time for big changes,” Isaacs said at the time. “The Academy is taking dramatic steps to alter the makeup of our membership. In the coming days and weeks we will conduct a review of our membership recruitment in order to bring about much-needed diversity in our 2016 class and beyond."



Chris Rock, who hosted the 88th Academy Awards in February, joked that the awards ceremony was the “white BET Awards.”

“I’m here at the Academy Awards, otherwise known as the White People's Choice Awards. You realize, if they nominated hosts, I wouldn't even get this job. Y'all would be watching Neil Patrick Harris right now,” he cracked during his opening monologue.

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