Janelle Monae Shouts Happy Black History Month At Oscars

Janelle Monae crushed the stage with her phenomenal Oscar opening.
“We celebrate all the women who directed phenomenal films,” she said, midsong, “and I’m so proud to stand here as a black queer artist, telling stories. Happy Black History Month.”
Going into Sunday night’s ceremony, the Oscars had not only failed to nominate a single female director but also nominated just one actor of color in every category. The Oscars knew it had some explaining to do.

The show acknowledged the criticisms immediately. To open the evening, the Academy invited the singer and actor Janelle Monáe to perform a tribute to the movies. Besides a slew of dancers dressed in costumes evoking films both nominated (“Joker,” “Little Women”) and not (“Us”), Monae was also joined by Billy Porter, who sang Elton John’s “I’m Still Standing,” the climactic number from “Rocketman,” while Monae took to the piano, Monae took to the audience to get some help with her “la-la-las,” finding the most enthusiastic momentary duet partner in a very vocal Brie Larson.
Janelle Monae celebrated diversity and the people it was SNUBB3D from.  Janelle continue to be that light in a world where diversity is still being shut out of.

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