The 88th annual Academy Awards stunned viewers on Sunday night when host Chris Rock introduced Stacey Dash in what will become one of the most awkward moments in television history.
Viewers and attendees were left confused after Rock welcomed Dash to the stage as the Academy’s new director of the minority outreach program. She walked out on stage to absolutely no applause and shouted, “I cannot wait to help my people out. Happy black history month!” Well the actress took a moment after her bit to explain the joke, although if you have to explain a joke that means it probably wasn’t funny to begin with. Peep what she had to say below.
“Who is Stacey Dash” and why did I just walk across the #Oscar stage? https://t.co/MPzbmpDs72 @ChrisRock
— Stacey Dash (@REALStaceyDash) February 29, 2016
“I’ve spoken out about a LOT of stuff that black people try to stuff down my throat,” she wrote. “For example, I spoke out against Black History Month. ( Why should there be such a thing? Haven’t we had more than just one month’s worth of accomplishments? ).” She has also spoken out on the #OscarsSoWhite controversy saying that people should “stop complaining about white people oppressing us, we shouldn’t boycott the Oscars, and we need to support Chris Rock the host.”
She continued:
Which brings me to the joke. 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.)
Get into the awkward moment below as well as some audience reactions.
the weekend’s reaction to stacey dash is the bestt Oscarssowhite pic.twitter.com/ntV8ecfhMP
— New York Press (@NewYorkCP) February 29, 2016
Chrissy Teigen’s infamous award show face strikes again! #Oscars pic.twitter.com/WhdUSevEBj
— E! Online (@eonline) February 29, 2016
