People in the movie world are angry that the movie industry is run by "old white men". People complained after the Oscar nominations came out because all 20 of the actors who could win an Oscar are white. There are no women in the directing or writing categories. The Los Angeles Times carried out a survey on who the members of the Academy are. The members choose the men and women who are nominated for an Oscar. The survey found that the members of the academy were 94 per cent white, largely male, with an average age of 62.

Critics say there is too little diversity in the Oscars. Civil rights campaigner Al Sharpton criticised the Academy. He said: "The movie industry is like the Rocky Mountains – the higher you get, the whiter it gets." He added that: "The lack of diversity in [the] Oscar nominations is [terrible]." He pointed out that a movie nominated for this year's 'Best Picture' award, 'Selma,' was about racism, but no non-white actors were up for an award. The president of the Academy said the members do nominate the best people, regardless of their colour or gender. However, she hoped Hollywood would become more diverse.