Denzel Washington Talks Lack Of Diversity At The Oscars: ‘I’ve Lived It’

By Rachel West. Published: 15 Dec 2016 6:40 PM Last updated: 15 Dec 2016 6:43 PM

Denzel Washington admits the Academy Awards are “unfair.”

The two-time winner addresses the lack of diversity at the annual awards in an interview with “60 Minutes” airing on Sunday, Dec. 18.

“I’ve lived it. I’ve been the guy at the Oscars without my name being called……when my name is called…when everybody thought they was going to call my name and they didn’t,” the 61-year-old star says.

While he might agree that the process is unfair, Washington encourages performers not to give up. “Yeah, and so what? You going to give up? If you’re looking for an excuse, you’ll find one,” he says, adding that race is one of many excuses. “You can find it wherever you like. Can’t live like that. Just do the best you can do.”

Washington is once again earning Award Season buzz for “Fences”, a stage adaption he both directs and stars in, which opens in theatres on December 25.