The Academy Awards is refusing to let Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy appear at the 2023 ceremony, Variety reported Thursday.
The rejection is the second in as many years for the organizers behind The Oscars, according to Variety. Sources said that WME agent Mike Simpson attempted to make the case for Zelenskyy’s appearance at the awards show, but his lobbying landed of deaf ears.
Zelenskyy’s plea comes as more Americans are growing weary of the Biden Administration sending tax dollars to Ukraine to support its warfare with Russia, Variety reported, citing data from the Pew Research Center.
Being a Russian oligarch is just about the deadliest thing you could’ve been this year https://t.co/Waw52nGwfZ
— Daily Caller (@DailyCaller) December 30, 2022
Zelenskyy has spent a huge amount of time teleconferencing into awards shows and other events since Russia invaded Ukraine in Feb. 2022. He’s shown up remotely at the Cannes and Venice film festivals, the Grammys, the Golden Globes, and virtually rang the Opening Bell of the New York Stock exchange in September, Variety continued. (RELATED: Ukraine Got Mad At CBS, So The Network Deleted A Documentary)
The Oscar’s producer Will Packer reportedly expressed concerns over having Zelenskyy involved in the Academy Awards. Sources say Packer thinks Hollywood is only loving on the Ukrainian president because those impacted by the war with Russia are white, and that there are many conflicts going on around the world that do not involve white people. The Toronto Film Festival also rejected an appearance from the comedian-turned-politician.