In what felt like a collective hallucination, Oscars host Chris Rock brought Stacey Dash onstage Sunday night directly following a sharp monologue slamming Hollywood for its diversity issues.
You know, Stacey Dash—the Fox News commentator who called the wage gap “an excuse” and rape victims “bad girls who like to be naughty,” who protested the existence of Black History Month, and who disagreed with her colleagues who called for an Oscars boycott.
“It’s hard to get a job, and that’s the truth out there for black actors,” Rock began. “But let me tell you some good news: the Academy has taken steps to fix this problem, and that is why it is my honor to introduce the director of our minority outreach program. Please welcome Miss Stacey Dash!”
The silence was deafening.
She came onstage with a weird, villainous giggle, and said: “I cannot wait to help my people out. Happy Black History Month!” Then she giggled again, said “Thank you,” and walked offstage.
...What? Why? How? Was Chris Rock trolling this woman hard? Considering it’s the most awkward thing I’ve ever seen in my entire life, seems like something got lost in translation.
In a blog post on Patheos.com entitled “Who is Stacey Dash and why did she just walk across the #Oscar stage?”, Dash explained her thoughts on her own inclusion:
When they added ME to increase the diversity, I’m sure many black people rolled their eyes. I’m not “black enough,” they say. But guess what? I’ve heard that all my life. I would rather be a free thinking, black than a cookie cutter black who thinks – and votes – just like all my friends.
Yes, I’m the actress from the South Bronx who has always dreamed of winning an Oscar. But God has a great sense of humor and this is my first encounter with one of my dreams of destiny. Bringing diversity to Hollywood… not merely because of color, but politics as well. (After all, different colors of skin is an easy kind of diversity. Ideological diversity is much harder, because it forces everyone to come face to face with actual beliefs. Hollywood needs BOTH.)
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