House Democratic Rep. Joaquin Castro, D-Texas, accused the Academy Awards of sexism for excluding the film “Barbie” from the Best Director category, igniting outrage. Here’s what happened:

– Castro highlighted Hollywood’s issue with female directors, noting that only 11% of top-grossing films in 2022 were directed by women.
– He pointed out Greta Gerwig’s accomplishments with “Barbie,” as the highest-grossing film of 2023 and saving Warner Bros. Discovery’s year.
– Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton also supported Gerwig and lead actress Margot Robbie, recognizing their box office success.
– “Barbie” and Christopher Nolan’s “Oppenheimer” revived the movie industry post-COVID, earning eight Oscar nominations.
– However, backlash arose over the lack of recognition for Gerwig and Robbie, with left-wing activists expressing discontent.
– Fox News Digital has reached out to Castro’s office and the Academy for comment as the controversy unfolds.