Joaquin Phoenix Delivers Powerful Speech on systemic racism at BAFTAs

Brut America

"I'm ashamed to say that I'm part of the problem." Joaquin Phoenix berated systemic racism in the film industry, even while he was accepting a BAFTA award for best leading actor.

Transcript

00:00We have to really do the hard work to truly understand systemic racism.

00:06I think that it is the obligation of the people that have created and perpetuate and benefit

00:14from a system of oppression to be the ones that dismantle it.

00:18So that's on us.

00:21I feel very honored and privileged to be here, but I have to say that I also feel conflicted

00:31because so many of my fellow actors that are deserving don't have that same privilege.

00:38I think that we send a very clear message to people of color that you're not welcome

00:44here.

00:45I think that's the message that we're sending to people that have contributed so much to

00:51our medium and our industry and in ways that we benefit from.

00:56I don't think anybody wants a handout or preferential treatment, although that's what we give ourselves

01:03every year.

01:04I think that people just want to be acknowledged and appreciated and respected for their work.

01:10This is not a self-righteous condemnation because I'm ashamed to say that I'm part of

01:15the problem.

01:16I have not done everything in my power to ensure that the sets I work on are inclusive,

01:22but I think that it's more than just having sets that are multicultural.

01:26I think that we have to really do the hard work to truly understand systemic racism.

01:37I think that it is the obligation of the people that have created and perpetuate and benefit

01:45from a system of oppression to be the ones that dismantle it.

01:49So that's on us.

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