Spike Lee Slams ‘Green Book’s Best Picture Oscars Win: “The Refs Made a Bad Call”

Last night, the 91st Academy Awards capped off a night of surprising turns by awarding Green Book Best Picture. The moment stunned viewers, particularly those who were hoping Bohemian Rhapsody, Roma, or even Black Panther could pull out a win, but no one was more surprised — and upset — than BlackKklansman director Spike Lee. According to AP’s Andrew Dalton, Lee was “visibly angry” after Green Book won, and he tried to “storm out of the Dolby Theater” but was stopped by security. Later, in a post-show interview, Lee compared the decision to a Knicks game, saying that “the ref made a bad call.”

After the show, multiple outlets shared Lee’s reaction to the BlackKklansman snub. “Spike Lee was visibly angry when Green Book was announced as the winner of best picture at the Oscars, waving his arms in disgust and appearing to try to storm out of the Dolby Theatre before he was stopped at the doors,” tweeted Dalton. “He returned to his seat when the speeches were over.”

A source told Deadline that Lee was “clearly furious” after the Best Picture announcement. “He was pacing the aisle and stormed to the back of the auditorium. When he came back, he turned his back to the stage during the speech,” Deadline tweeted. Added Canadian Press reporter David Friend, “I was trying to figure out what all the commotion was off screen at the Oscars when Green Book won … Here’s some insight.”

After the show, Lee opened his press interview by saying, “This is my sixth glass, and you know why.” When asked about his “reaction to the Green Book win,” the director initially avoided the question. “Let me take another sip,” he said, laughing. “Next question!”

But Lee’s curiosity soon got the better of him. “What reaction did you see? What did I do?” he asked before (jokingly) disputing the reporter’s account of events. “No, I thought I was court side at the Garden. The ref made a bad call,” the Knicks fan said. “Even if we didn’t win Best Picture, this film will stand the test of time as being on the right side of history,” he later added of BlackKklansman.

Lee went on to shout out April Reign, founder of the #OscarsSoWhite movement, and former Academy president Cheryl Boone Isaacs. “They opened up the Academy to make the Academy look more like America. It’s more diverse,” said Lee. “So that’s why three black women, if I counted correctly, won Oscars. That would not have happened without #OscarsSoWhite and Cheryl Boone Isaacs. Facts.”

Where to stream Green Book

Where to stream BlackKklansman