Angela Bassett continuously raises the standard for acting ability, whether it is by playing strong, empowering women like Tina Turner in What’s Love Got to Do with It, or taking on the role of historical figures like Rosa Parks in The Rosa Parks Story. She not only brings characters to life, but she also perfectly captures their essence with a level of genuineness and intensity. With two Golden Globe Awards and two Oscar nominations under her belt, the recent Academy Honorary victory seems like the ideal complement to her trophy cabinet.
In honor of her contributions to the film industry, Bassett, 65, who began her acting career in 1974, received an Academy Honorary Award at the 14th Governors Awards. But before that, the evening’s host, John Mulaney, made fun of Marvel films, comparing her Oscar nomination to winning a “Pulitzer Prize” for a “Reddit comment”.
The Long Overdue: Angela Bassett Gets an Honorary Academy Award
Angela Bassett, who has a long and distinguished career spanning decades, received her Oscar Honorary statuette after receiving two nominations.
The Hollywood Reporter reports that Bassett, Mel Brooks, and film editor Carol Littleton were honored at the 14th annual Governors Awards on Tuesday. The recipient of Bassett’s award was Regina King; the two have worked together on several films together, including Boyz n the Hood and How Stella Got Her Groove Back. She was praised by the Watchmen actress as a “national treasure” and “artistic excellence embodied in human form”.
Speaking about her belief that acting was her “calling”, Bassett thanked the audience during her acceptance speech, saying:
“Thank you, thank you to the Academy and the Board of Governors for this award. I have considered acting my calling and not just my career. I do this work because I find it meaningful and I hope in some way that it makes a difference and has an impact. To be recognized in this way for what I love doing is truly wonderful and I am beyond grateful.”
An honorary Oscar seems to be the perfect addition to her trophy cabinet after a long and arduous career. But before all of this, host John Mulaney took his time during his Governors Awards monologue to criticize the Marvel films.
Host Made Disturbing ‘Flat and Uninspired Joke’ on Marvel Films
John Mulaney’s Governors Awards Monologue mocks a variety of topics, including Marvel movies. Before Angela Bassett’s Academy Honorary win, he attacked the studios, saying:
“Here’s what a great actor Angela Bassett is. She got an Oscar nomination for a Marvel movie. That’s like getting a Pulitzer Prize for a Reddit comment.”
This “flat and uninspired joke” does not seem to sit well with fans, who trolled the host on X. Let us check out some of the tweets:
I…I’m sorry I REALLY fucking hate this. pic.twitter.com/0o1cCXGxoM
— It Was All a Dream, I Used to Read Wizard Magazine (@UpToTASK) January 12, 2024
Shout out to Angela for her “Oscar” but I’m sorry I can’t get excited for this participation trophy ass shit. This is basically the Academy Awards ADMITTING they fucked up for years and aren’t standing on business. This was the Oscars version of Macklemore winning over Kendrick. pic.twitter.com/KIjhzUxRqb
— It Was All a Dream, I Used to Read Wizard Magazine (@UpToTASK) January 12, 2024
Nah dude. Don’t you get it. Wakanda Forever was a Reddit comment because Ant-Man and the Wasp was bad. That’s how it works.
— ComicAccuracy (@comicaccuracy) January 12, 2024
It was such a flat and uninspired joke. No better than anything from the Golden Globes
— ScottieMcScottFace (@ScottieWild24) January 12, 2024
it wasn’t even funny. There’s so much material with Angela Bassett & the Oscars, 40 years & only 2 Nominations, etc.
But that would require making some ppl who run the Oscars uncomfortable. So instead “teehee Marvel movies aren’t seen as cinema cause it’s for low IQ fans”
— Paint by numbers & your enemies screams XIV (@echap2190) January 12, 2024
Yeah that's some bullshit. And I normally like him.
— Wicked Specialist (@wickedspecialst) January 13, 2024
A lot of people believe that Bassett ought to have received the Oscar much earlier. Last year, she received the Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actress for her work as Queen Ramonda in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever. Many took this to mean that the actress would win the Oscar in the same category.
Thus, it is easy to understand why this can be regarded as one of the biggest, if not the biggest, snubs in Academy Award history when you combine it with all the accolades and recognition she received before this year’s ceremony.
