Barkhad Abdi, Captain Phillips
Bradley Cooper, American Hustle
Michael Fassbender, 12 Years a Slave
Jonah Hill, The Wolf of Wall Street
Jared Leto, Dallas Buyers Club (winner)
As violent demonstrations against Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro mount, administrative opponents have taken to social media to address the country’s ongoing grievances.
With Sunday’s Academy Awards at the forefront of media attention, Venezuelans and their supporters are calling on Hollywood to engage in international discourse, with #OscarsForVenezuela trending on Twitter.
OSCARS: Hollywood Addressed Ukrainian Conflict
Venezuela’s leaders have accused protestors of prodding celebrity endorsements on behalf of a radical agenda, including Information Minister Delcy Rodriguez. “Right-wing extremists are lobbying in Hollywood, looking for pronouncements against Venezuela at the Oscars!” Rodriguez tweeted.
But in the wake of deadly clashes that have left at least 17 people dead, many of Hollywood’s icons have extended sympathies for victims.
PHOTOS: Oscars 2014: The Red Carpet Arrivals
“To all the dreamers out there watching this in places like Ukraine and Venezuela, as you struggle to make your dreams happen and live the impossible, we’re thinking of you tonight,” Jared Leto (Dallas Buyers Club) said during his acceptance speech for best supporting actor.
Singers Madonna and Cher have also voiced their support for the nation’s political dissidents via social media, but with last year’s Academy Awards garnering 40.3 million viewers, Venezuelans feel the pressure to get their message out about growing governmental unrest.
