Danny DeVito comments on Oscars diversity controversy: 'We're a bunch of racists'

Updated
Danny DeVito Weighs In On 2016 Oscars Boycott: The Entire Country Is Racist
Danny DeVito Weighs In On 2016 Oscars Boycott: The Entire Country Is Racist

Danny DeVito is the latest actor to chime in on the controversy surrounding the 2016 Oscars after the acting categories featured all white nominees for the second year in a row.

"It's unfortunate that the entire country is a racist country," the 71-year-old star told the Associated Press at the Sundance Film Festival on Saturday. "This is one example of the fact that even though some people have given great performances in movies they weren't even thought about."

READ MORE: Chris Rock Not Dropping Out Of Oscars, Rewriting Monologue to Address #OscarsSoWhite Outrage

DeVito's comments come on the heels of the Academy announcing that they are institutionalizing new guidelines after some A-list actors said they would be boycotting the awards show this year. "We are living in a country that discriminates and has certain racist tendencies so sometimes it's manifested in things like this and it's illuminated," the Always Sunny in Philadelphia star continued. "But just generally speaking we're racists. We are a bunch of racists."

See pictures of this year's Oscar nominees:

ET spoke with Academy President Cheryl Boone Isaacs this weekend about the Oscars drama, and she seemed optimistic about the future of the awards show once the new guidelines are in place. "It means more inclusion. It means inviting in women, non-whites, more diverse group of filmmakers, international, young," she explained. "All that meet the criteria of the Academy."

READ MORE: Michael Caine Speaks Out on Oscars Diversity Problem, Says Black Actors Should 'Be Patient'

Here's more of our interview with Isaacs:

Academy President Cheryl Boone Isaacs Responds to Oscars Backlash: 'Step In The Right Direction'
Academy President Cheryl Boone Isaacs Responds to Oscars Backlash: 'Step In The Right Direction'

Advertisement