The actress throws just the right amount of shade
Last week (26 February), the editorial director of People and Entertainment Weekly Jess Cagle made a mistake on the Oscars pre-show that’s proven difficult to live down. It happened while he was discussing key films in this year’s Oscars race, referencing a certain Hidden Fences. This is of course an amalgamation of two movies, Hidden Figures and Fences.
It wasn’t the first time that particular mistake had been made. In another example, NBC’s show correspondent Jenna Bush approached singer-songwriter Pharrell Williams with, “So, you’re nominated for Hidden Fences“, prompting some meme-worthy side-eye.
This red carpet correspondent speaking with Pharrell just said he was nominated for “Hidden Fences” look at his face 😭 pic.twitter.com/6QTOBH6qtO
— DK Uzoukwu (@DKuzLA) January 9, 2017
However, Hidden Figures star Octavia Spencer has clapped back. As the guest host for this week’s SNL, she used her opening monologue to address this kind of casual racism within Hollywood, remarking how she has played a maid 16 times – alluding to the way black actors and actresses are usually cast in supporting roles.
Spencer points out, “People have been coming up to me saying, ‘I loved Hidden Fences!'”
She then goes on to say, “There were three black movies at the Oscars this year. And that’s a lot for Americans.”
But the ideal solution has been presented by the actress – her pitch of the film Hidden Fence Light: “It’s a story of three black women who send an introspective gay boy to build a fence on the moon.”
Sounds lit, to be honest.