Actress Sheryl Lee Ralph’s remark about the Academy Awards has ignited a fierce debate on the role of sexuality in winning an Oscar.
The actress went viral on social media for her unfiltered statement to BC after the 97th Academy Awards. The Abbott Elementary star shared her thoughts on the winners at the ceremony and said, “I was disappointed that Wicked didn’t get more, but I was absolutely excited for [Costume Designer] Paul Tazewell.”
Ralph then added, “But I have told people over and over again, the fastest way to an Oscar is either on a pole or have—I’m telling you: sex sells, baby. Sex sells.”
While Ralph did not specify any film, performance or name any actor, her comments have been widely interpreted as a dig at Anora, which won five major awards, including Best Picture, Best Director, Best Original Screenplay, Best Film Editing, and Best Actress for Mikey Madison. In the film, Madison portrays a stripper and sex worker, joining a list of actresses who have won Oscars for similar roles.
Recent reports state that a total of 14 Best Actress winners have played sex workers in the Academy Awards’ 97-year history. However, in the last 20 years, only two Best Actress winners—Mikey Madison (Anora) and Emma Stone (Poor Things)—have portrayed sex workers, with Stone’s role involving only a minor part of her character’s story arc.
Those who came to Ralph’s defence said, “She’s literally not lying. the film industry is historically chauvinistic and ageist, and it places a woman’s value in her ability to provide sexual fantasies to men. time and time again we have seen actresses be rewarded for playing into that fantasy, while actors don’t have to.”
Another noted, “Even Anne Hathaway made a joke back in the 2010 Oscars: ‘you get naked, you get nominated’.”
It remains unclear whether Ralph’s statement was specifically about portraying sex workers or simply performing sexually charged scenes, but the debate raged on with many sharing their thoughts and ideas about the same.
While some seemed to agree with Ralph, others defended the female Oscar winners over the years saying, “I don’t recall Michelle Yeoh twerking in everything everywhere all at once, she lowkey a slut shaming auntie for this.”
Another added, “The difference between the sentences “every woman who won an oscar played a sex worker at some point in their career” and “every woman who won an oscar got it for playing a sex worker” is kicking a lot of asses this week.”