Sheryl Lee Ralph is making waves on social media because of her scorching take about the way to win an Oscar. And whereas some of us see the benefit in her stance, others are having a tough time agreeing with the veteran actress.
For context, Ralph’s feedback got here late on Sunday whereas she was being interviewed after the 2025 Academy Awards at Elton John Basis annual viewing celebration. Throughout her chat with “ABC On the Carpet,” Ralph expressed her disappointment in “Depraved” not going house with extra awards and her glee over Paul Tazewell’s historic win. Nonetheless, it was the remark she made after the truth that’s obtained of us on-line in a tizzy.
“However I’ve informed individuals over and over: the quickest method to an Oscar is both on a pole or have—I’m telling you! Intercourse sells child, intercourse sells,” she informed the reporter.
And the “Abbott Elementary” star simply might need a degree.
As everyone knows, Halle Berry stays the one Black girl to take house the Oscar for Greatest Actress for her portrayal in “Monster’s Ball” again in 2001. However the award was for a task that was closely criticized throughout the Black neighborhood on the time as many felt she solely acquired it as a result of she obtained practically utterly nude on-camera throughout a intercourse scene.
Previous to Berry’s win, the the one roles Black ladies had gotten nominated for in the identical class portrayed them as both down on their luck (Diahann Carroll in “Claudine”) or struggling and poor (Whoopi Goldberg in “The Shade Purple”). Years after Berry’s win, these nominations would comply with the identical sample (Gabourey Sidibe in “Treasured” and Viola Davis in “The Assist”) although these roles have but to be given the Oscar for the most important Greatest Actress class.
Seeing as how that is the case, it nearly proves as justification for Ralph’s level— a minimum of the place Black ladies are involved. However to be clear, quite a few Black ladies have gained for Greatest Supporting Actress in a wide range of totally different roles.
Nonetheless, some of us on X/Twitter nonetheless weren’t right here for Ralph’s feedback and made certain to hold forth about it.
“Think about being this ignorant and misogynistic. Mikey Madison gained as a result of she was one of the best out of the 5 nominees and this ought to be celebrated because it not often happens on this particular class,” one consumer wrote, referencing the latest Greatest Actress winner Madison for her function in “Anora.”
“Love her however she’s a center aged african girl why in gods identify are you individuals truly taking this significantly,” mentioned one other.
Nonetheless, others had been fast to come back to her protection.
“I don’t like how y’all crusty dusty ass mfs are being disrespectful within the quotes in direction of THEE Sheryl Lee Ralph for saying nothing however the rattling reality. Intercourse sells that’s how the fucking business works,” wrote one consumer.
Mentioned one other, “Sheryl lee ralph has been in that business longer than a lot of the nominees this 12 months have even been alive and y’all wanna try to disgrace her for this…she is telling her lived reality. y’all must shut the hell up.”
“I simply noticed a tweet calling Sheryl Lee Ralph a slut shamming auntie for that quote & I promise y’all have rocks for brains. Highlighting that the pathway to success for girls in movie is commonly through enjoying sexualized roles is actually the alternative of slut shamming,” one other consumer mentioned.
“In the event you suppose sheryl lee ralph was dissing or would have any cause TO diss you could shortly take a highschool english class and likewise do your analysis,” one different consumer wrote.