Respect Diversity + Inclusion

Chadwick Boseman’s shocking Oscar loss to Anthony Hopkins sparks backlash

by Christian Spencer | April 26, 2021 | Apr. 26, 2021

Story at a glance:

  • The late Chadwick Boseman did not win Best Actor, as many expected, for his last movie appearance.
    • Some fans were upset with Anthony Hopkin’s win.
    • Boseman’s co-stars say the actor was like his “Black Panther” character, indicating that he was not materialistic and would not have necessarily cared about the award.

Late actor Chadwick Boseman lost the Oscars’s best actor category to Anthony Hopkins.

Hopkins in “The Father” beat fan-favorite Boseman in “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom” for Best Actor — an opportunity Boseman will never have again as the film depicting Ma Rainey, a famous blues musician, and her band was the last movie he acted in before his death, Variety reported.

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This year’s Oscars was a closed event with some of the stars of the night gathering in one open space, unmasked. However, Hopkins did not accept his award in person. The 83-year-old actor submitted a video from Wales, thanking his supporters and paying his respect to Boseman.

In another twist, the best actor award was the last to be presented for the evening — usually the time slot reserved for Best Picture — which led many to believe that the show was building up to the late actor’s win. 

On social media, fans voiced their disappointment, with many saying they felt deceived and betrayed by the Academy’s decision.

However, others also used the moment to highlight Boseman’s achievements and character.

Boseman is beloved for his real-life charm and on-screen talent. His portrayals as Thurgood Marshall, Jackie Robinson and James Brown were perceived as top-notch performances that showcased his range. 

The actor also starred in blockbuster movies like “Black Panther,” “Captain American: Civil War,” and “Avengers: Endgame” and “Avengers: Infinity War” and “21 Bridges.”

According to theGrio, Danai Gurira, Boseman’s co-star in “Black Panther,” said he was a real-life benevolent king just like the one he portrayed on set.

“How do you honor a king? Reeling from the loss of my colleague, my friend, my brother. Struggling for words. Nothing feels adequate. I always marveled at how special Chadwick was,” Gurira said in an Instagram post. “Such a pure hearted, profoundly generous, regal, fun guy. My entire job as Okoye was to respect and protect a king. Honor his leadership. Chadwick made that job profoundly easy. He was the epitome of kindness, elegance, diligence and grace. On many an occasion I would think how thankful I was that he was the leading man I was working closely with. A true class act. And so perfectly equipped to take on the responsibility of leading the franchise that changed everything for Black representation.” 

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