LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – APRIL 25: Angela Bassett attends the 93rd Annual Academy Awards at Union Station on April 25, 2021 in Los Angeles, California.

It’s not a surprise that Black actors have not gotten the recognition they deserve in the film industry. It wasn’t too long ago that the social media movement #OscarsSoWhite — 2016, to be exact — shamed the Academy Awards for only having white actors nominated in the acting categories. Unfortunately, not too much has changed since that moment.

Angela Bassett’s Viral Oscar Moment

The most recent testament to this ongoing facade is Bassett’s snub at the 2023 Oscars. The actress, who has been a part of the industry for more than two decades, did not win for her phenomenal performance as Queen Ramonda in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever. Jamie Lee Curtis ended up winning for her performance as Deirdre Beaubeirdre in Everything Everywhere All At Once. Bassett was Marvel’s first actor nominated for an Oscar.

While the snub itself was a part of the viral moment, Bassett’s disappointed expression was shared countless times online as she was criticized for not getting up and applauding Curtis for her win.

“Angela Bassett not standing up for Jamie Lee Curtis is kinda shady. I get you’re upset for not winning but damn…,” one user

Angela Bassett not standing up for Jamie Lee Curtis is kinda shady. I get you’re upset for not winning but damn…. #Oscars #Oscars2023

— Susan A (@susanloli) March 13, 2023" target="_blank" rel="noopener">wrote.

A fan came to her defense

Good for Angela Bassett not smiling nor clapping. Y’all expect Black women to not only be exceptional, but be happy for other who get accolades we deserve over and over.

— Ms. Andry Noir, PhD (@keatingssixth) March 13, 2023" target="_blank" rel="noopener">writing, “Good for Angela Bassett not smiling nor clapping. Y’all expect Black women to not only be exceptional, but be happy for other who get accolades we deserve over and over.”

Other fans noticed that Diane Warren, who is a white woman, was nominated for Best Original Song for “Applause” from Tell It Like a Woman did not stand up or clap for the Rahul Sipligunj and Kaala Bhairava for their song “Naatu Naatu” for RRR which won the category.

It has not only happened to Black women, but Black men have also faced the same level of rejection. The most recent example was of the late Chadwick Boseman in 2021 when he was nominated for Best Actor for Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom.

Take a look at seven actors who have yet to win an Oscar below:

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