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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to wonder why Octavia Spencer (from The Help) got a standing ovation at the Oscars?

26 replies

Vagabond · 28/02/2012 17:17

It seemed really patronising to me. It was almost as if the crowd were playing up to a black actress winning an award as in a "oh, good, hasn't she done well" type thing. Nobody else of her professional standing received such an ovation. So, why her?

I also thought the presenters on Sky Movies were an embarrassment - particularly that woman in the red tights who couldn't sit still and kept splaying her legs up in the air, guffawing and munching on popcorn. Hideous!

OP posts:
LAlady · 28/02/2012 17:53

Christopher Plummer got a standing ovation. Meryl Streep got a standing ovation. Not sure about the best actor from The Actor but after watching it, I thought all the best actors/actresses and supporting got standing ovations. I didn't read anything different into Octavia Spencer.

thestringcheesemassacre · 28/02/2012 18:00

Yes, I'm sure all the actors did get a standing ovation.

StrandedBear · 28/02/2012 18:01

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

LentillyFart · 28/02/2012 18:02

So what OP? Are you trying to imply some kind of racist undertone here? Is this really the best you can do? Make a note - it is not actually imperative to find offence and racism in everything ok?

Original poster
Vagabond · 28/02/2012 18:03

Yes, well..Christopher Plummer is an acting legend at 82. Meryl Streep is a goddess of cinema. Octavia Spencer? Not so much.

Or...maybe they had to give an ovation to Plummer and Streep because they'd already set the bar. Also, found it insulting and mildly embarrassing for the losers in that category "oh, they clearly thought she was best!". Just saying.....

OP posts:
Original poster
Vagabond · 28/02/2012 18:04

Lentilly, I don't think I implied it. I think I said it.

OP posts:
LentillyFart · 28/02/2012 18:05

Yeah, I suppose you did. Why remains another matter.

OriginalJamie · 28/02/2012 18:06

I think that it's probably what you said - that if they had started the ovations, it's hard to stop

I noticed this at filming of Strictly Come Dancing..........

I'd give the Artist actor one (an ovation)

OriginalJamie · 28/02/2012 18:06

OTOH Lentilly - it's not imperative to deny it might be happening. She's allowed to ask. I think.

TheVermiciousKnid · 28/02/2012 18:07

But ... isn't it irrelevant in this case whether somebody is an acting legend or a really well known/successful actor? They got a standing ovation for winning an Oscar!

Peniston · 28/02/2012 18:11

Maybe it has something to do with the fact that her acceptance speech was so self-effacing, humble, grateful and full of genuine emotion. Not qualities one associates with the usual Hollywood egos.

Original poster
Vagabond · 28/02/2012 18:15

Certainly, Peniston. However, the ovation came before her speech. And Vermi....if I thought it was irrelevant, I wouldn't have asked!

I just thought it was more 'right on' than deserved and not usual behaviour. That's all.

OP posts:
Busyoldfool · 29/02/2012 23:37

And if she hadn't got an ovation?

BrightnessFalls · 29/02/2012 23:41

They all got them because they all deserved them. Its an Oscar I dont think theres any point in reading too much into it. Im sure all the speeches were heartfelt.

SlinkingOutsideInFrocks · 01/03/2012 01:52

I didn't see it so I can't comment... but it did immediately make me think of Barack Obama and all the back-slapping and man-hugging, and double-hand-shaking and arms-round-shoulders, cheesy-grinning, you-and-I-are-BFFs-from-waaay-back-no-really-we-genuinely-are nonsense that the poor man has to endure, that other politicians are not subjected to...

I mean, every time he visits a country or gets papped with another politician, there he is being man-handled by some ligger, anxious to prove their 'you're the man, B' credentials.

I don't see other politicians being grappled in any sort of the same way... Hmm

It's so fucking patronising. Or is it just me?

HolyNoSheDittantBatman · 01/03/2012 02:15

I just youtubed some past 'best supporting actress' winners and none of them had a standing ovation so either it's a new policy this year or there is something special/different about Octavia Spencer. Or maybe the precedent thing. Interesting OP.

HolyNoSheDittantBatman · 01/03/2012 02:18

Oh interestingly Monique got a standing ovation when she won in 2010. She's also black. The 2011 (white) winner didn't. Maybe you've got a point OP!

choux · 01/03/2012 02:29

The Academy voters are widely known to be not very diverse - they are mainly male, white and getting on in years. So for a black woman's performance to be recognised by them is still seen as groundbreaking.

I didn't watch the Oscars so have no idea how much applause or ovation each winner got but it's recognition of a great performance and so why wouldn't the audience salute them? I don't know the order of awards but I agree that once you start giving standing ovations it would be hard to stop. But it could just be that the audience was warmed up better in previous years and was feeling generous.

mybrainsthinkingfuckyouagain · 01/03/2012 02:45

Because she was only the sixth black woman to get an Oscar.
I saw it live and thought the same.
Would Melissa McCarthy have got the same reaction had she won it?

Maybe the rest of the Help cast stood up and it became like a mexican wave? I would have to rewatch it.

Yep to the reasons for CP and MS too.
So to get a standing ovation you need to be either

black
old
a national treasure/a 15 time loser out the 18 times you've been nominated

Viola Davis basically asked who/where was the black Meryl Streep. Answer obv being there is no equivalent as the parts are not that diverse for black actors.
That she wasn't enamoured about playing a black maid but it was the best part that had come her way in a while...
....that the first Oscar went to Hattie McDaniel for GWTW (Mammy) in 1939 and at the ceremony she had to sit separately her co-stars 73 years ago but she gets an Oscar for the maid part Hmm and to Billy Crystal's hug a black person joke double hmm Hmm.

The standing ovation was as patronising as the dubbed Black Oscars TM a few years ago when Halle Berry Denzel Washington and Sidney Poitier won.

TroublesomeEx · 01/03/2012 07:01

I started reading this post thinking "Oh good grief, here we go again..." but having read the rest of the posts...

Maybe the ovation was because she was black. Not in a patronising "bless her" way, but in recognition that black actors usually get overlooked and she has done extra brilliantly to be seen in a shallow, superficial world (Hollywood) where she might usually have expected to have been overlooked.

Tbh, in a world where every X Factor loser gets a standing ovation, I don't think they hold the gravitas they might once have done.

Didn't watch it though so perhaps shouldn't really be commenting!

SydSaid · 01/03/2012 07:24

I was sure I heard that Angelina Jolie 'started' the standing ovation. I wouldn't be surprised if it was because it is a rarity that a black woman get an Oscar. Its good if it gets people thinking about the inequalities that are still prevalent.

SoupDragon · 01/03/2012 07:28

Would you have questioned it had a white winner got an ovation?

survivingwinter · 01/03/2012 09:46

I just assumed it was because she was brilliant in the part - silly me Confused

Mrsjay · 01/03/2012 09:49

They all got standing ovations christopher plummer especially 80 odd and his first oscar maybe they were being agiest . The oscars is a complete lovey fest they all love saying how wonderful they all are and will stand and applaud ,

GoEasyPudding · 01/03/2012 10:10

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.