The National Hispanic Foundation for the Arts has issued an apology after receiving backlash for not recognizing Colman Domingo’s Oscar nomination for his lead role in Rustin. The organization congratulated Latina stars America Ferrera and Becky G on their Oscar nomination excluding Colman Domingo, who is Afro-Latino, his roots hailing from Belize and Guatemala. Twitter users reacted with outrage, disappointment, and disgust.
Following the organization’s apology, another post was shared highlighting Domingo starring as Bayard Rustin in the biopic, Rustin congratulating him on his nomination for Actor in Leading Role.
The Academy Awards has a reputation of straight actors being nominated and recognized for playing gay characters on television and movies. Colman Domingo’s nomination makes history as he has become the first openly gay Afro-Latino nominee Actor in a Leading Role for Rustin. The Netflix biopic is a historical drama about Bayard Rustin, a gay civil rights activist, adviser to Martin Luther King Jr., and the architect of the 1963 March on Washington. Despite being a seasoned actor in the entertainment industry, with notable supporting roles like Freddie Fallows in Lee Daniels’ The Butler, Joseph Rivers in If Beale Street Could Talk, and Mister in The Color Purple, the 56-year-old is now receiving well-deserved recognition. Earlier this week it was confirmed that Domingo will be starring as Joe Jackson in the upcoming biopic, Michael.
Colman Domingo Highlights His Success on Today
During an interview on Today with Willie Geist, Domingo opened up about his mind-blowing success.
“I didn’t even know that this could happen for me. I actually didn’t know.”
“I just wanted to do good work and then suddenly I am in this space where all the lights are brightly shining on me. It sort of takes my breath away when I think about it. I didn’t know I could dream this big.”
The Oscars air on ABC, Sunday, March 10.
What's Your Reaction?
