Oscars: Stacey Dash Explains Her Awkward Oscar Cameo

After playing a parody clip reel of “remakes” of some of this year’s film nominees to prove the point of #OscarsSoWhite, Chris Rock introduced actress Stacey Dash to the Oscars stage on Sunday night.

“The Academy has taken steps to fix this problem,” Rock said about the diversity controversy that has enveloped this year’s awards show. “And that’s why it’s my honor to introduce the new director of our minority outreach program — please welcome Miss Stacey Dash!”

Dash then took the stage and, while giggling, told the audience, “I cannot wait to help my people out — Happy Black History Month!” (The Clueless star made headlines earlier this year when she spoke out about #OscarsSoWhite and questioned the existence of the BET channel and the celebration of Black History Month.)

The quiet audience uttered a few laughs and viewers at home quickly took to Twitter to question the awkward moment, but Dash immediately provided an answer by sharing a prewritten blog post titled, “Who is Stacey Dash and why did she just walk across the #Oscar stage?“

“We need to stop complaining about white people oppressing us,” wrote Dash, explaining why she has spoken out against Black History Month and #OscarsSoWhite. “We shouldn’t boycott the Oscars, and we need to support Chris Rock the host.”

She continued: “Which brings me to the joke. When they added ME to increase the diversity, I’m sure many black people rolled their eyes. I’m not ‘black enough,’ they say. But guess what? I’ve heard that all my life. I would rather be a free thinking, black [sic] than a cookie cutter black who thinks — and votes — just like all my friends.”

Before Dash took the stage, Rock aired three remake videos of the films Joy, The Revenant and The Martian to illustrate how difficult it is for black actors to get work in Hollywood. “If you’re a black actor, just getting the opportunity to be in a movie can be a struggle,” said Rock as he introduced the clips. 

While mopping up the floor behind Jennifer Lawrence in a scene with Bradley Cooper from Joy, Whoopi Goldberg says, “Maybe one day they’ll make a movie about a skinny white lady who invented a mop. Of course a black girl would have to invent the cure to cancer before they even give her a TV movie.”

Read Dash’s post in full below:

You might be watching the Oscars and wondering why someone named Stacey Dash just walked across the stage. (Why was that funny anyway?)

Well, I’m Stacey – with an “e” – and it’s nice to meet you. I was born in the South Bronx, became an actress in Hollywood where I starred in the 1995 movie Clueless.

Since then, you won’t believe what happened. (Actually you can read the full story in my upcoming book There Goes My Social Life: From Clueless to Conservative.) Even though I voted for Obama during 2008 – even had a bumper sticker! – I didn’t make the same mistake twice. In 2012, I voted for Mitt Romney – and everyone freaked the hell out about it.

Why? Well, black people should support black candidates, I was told. But I’m not one to be told what to do. No matter my skin color, I was going to vote for the best candidate. Since I was blamed, mocked, and ridiculed in the press over supporting a Republican, I’ve spoken out about a LOT of stuff that black people try to stuff down my throat.

For example, I spoke out against Black History Month. ( Why should there be such a thing? Haven’t we had more than just one month’s worth of accomplishments? Here my thoughts HERE.) Plus, I spoke out against the #OscarsSoWhite controversy HERE. My take? We need to stop complaining about white people oppressing us, we shouldn’t boycott the Oscars, and we need to support Chris Rock the host.

Which brings me to the joke. When they added ME to increase the diversity, I’m sure many black people rolled their eyes. I’m not “black enough,” they say. But guess what? I’ve heard that all my life. I would rather be a free thinking, black than a cookie cutter black who thinks – and votes – just like all my friends.

Yes, I’m the actress from the South Bronx who has always dreamed of winning an Oscar. But God has a great sense of humor and this is my first encounter with one of my dreams of destiny. Bringing diversity to Hollywood… not merely because of color, but politics as well.  (After all, different colors of skin is an easy kind of diversity.  Ideological diversity is much harder, because it forces everyone to come face to face with actual beliefs.  Hollywood needs BOTH.)

Anyway, this is a first. A beginning.

So that’s who I am. Nice to meet you.