Reese Witherspoon, Mark Ruffalo latest to slam Oscars over diversity row

Reese Witherspoon has joined the growing list of celebrities who have commented on this year’s Oscars controversy and the actress blasted the Academy Awards for its lack of diversity amongst this year’s nominations.

The 39-year-old Hot Pursuit star, in an online post, has called for a “more diverse voting membership”. Sharing an article on Facebook, Witherspoon wrote, “I really appreciated this article in TIME on the lack of racial and gender diversity in this year’s Oscar nominations. So disappointed that some of 2015’s best films, filmmakers and performances were not recognised. Nothing can diminish the quality of their work, but these filmmakers deserve recognition. As an Academy member, I would love to see a more diverse voting membership.”

Spotlight star Mark Ruffalo also lent his voice to the growing disquiet of the lack of diversity. Ruffalo, 48, has called the second year with no Black nominees “terrible” and has admitted he is considering boycotting the event, reported Us magazine. Film director Spike Lee, actress Jada Pinkett Smith and her husband Will Smith have already declared their intention Meanwhile, Robert Redford refused to be drawn into the Oscars race controversy as the Sundance Film Festival he founded got underway in the mountains of Utah. “I am not into Oscars, I am not into that,” Redford told reporters as he kicked off the annual gathering.