Academy promises future Oscar shows will be more culturally sensitive

FOX 11 - After minorities were left out of the main acting categories at this year's Academy Awards, many expected the show to reference diversity but also be sensitive to minorities.

Some were still left offended, and the academy addressed those concerns Tuesday.

Twenty-five Asian members of the Academy including director Ang Lee, signed a letter last week saying the show's portrayal of Asians was tasteless and offensive. They were likely referring to when Chris Rock used three Asian kids during a math and sweatshop joke.

"When I talked to some of the people who signed it, they said I understand everything is fair game for a joke, but there's so much heightened sensitivity to diversity and Hollywood prejudice that to talk about #OscarsSoWhite and make Asians the butt of several jokes - I think they were shocked as much as anything," said Variety's Tim Gray.

An Academy spokesperson released this statement Tuesday afternoon:

"The Academy appreciates the concerns stated and regrets that any aspects of the Oscar telecast was offensive. We are committed to doing our best to ensure that material in future shows be more culturally sensitive."

Variety's awards editor Tim Gray says the academy was expected to address the issue of diversity on its board as early as Tuesday.

"The president of the academy, Cheryl Boone Isaacs, is going to nominate three people and the board will have to okay them," said Gray.

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