Spike Lee slammed Hollywood for its lack of diversity while accepting an honorary Oscar at the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences' seventh annual Governor's Awards Saturday night, Entertainment Tonight reported.
"Everybody in here probably voted for Obama, but when I go to offices, I see no black folks except for the brother man at the security who checks my name off the list as I go into the studio," the director said. "So we can talk 'yabba yabba yabba,' but we need to have some serious discussion about diversity and get some flavor up in this. This industry is so behind sports it's ridiculous."
"It's easier to be the president of the United States as a black person than be the head of a studio," The "Do the Right Thing" director added. "Honestly, it's easier to be president of the United States than the head of a studio or head of network."
Lee then pointed out the lack of African-American studio heads in Hollywood, providing the latest U.S. census numbers as statistics.
"I don't know if you noticed but the United States census bureau says by the year 2043, white Americans are going to be the minority in this country," he said, according to E!. "And all you people out there in the position of hiring, you better get smart because you'll work for us. Reflect what this country looks like."
Lee, who received the award from Denzel Washington, Samuel L. Jackson and Wesley Snipes, commended the Academy's head Cheryl Boone Isaacs for her efforts to promote diversity in the industry.
"President, keep it going," he said. "I know it's tough. We got a long way to go."
Actresses Gena Rowlands and Debbie Reynolds were also honored by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences with awards at the event, as HNGN previously reported.
Watch Lee's acceptance speech below:
