Some serious shade was thrown between 12 Years A Slave director Steve McQueen and Oscar-winning screenwriter John Ridley. Get the deets inside and read about Kanye West taking DONDA Music to Roc Nation.
In case you didn't notice, 12 Years A Slave director Steve McQueen (who won for Best Picture) gave a very slow clap for 12 Years A Slave screenwriter John Ridley (who won the Oscar for screenplay adaptation).
The next thing you may not have noticed was the NASTY side eye John gave Steve as he walked to the Oscar podium. It screamed "I don't SEE you".
Two other things you may not have noticed, John's acceptance speech DID NOT mention Steve and Steve's acceptance speech DID NOT mention John.
Ummm.....big elephant in the room. In a sea of white nominees, the two most high profile Black men (who just happened to work on the SAME movie) must know each other. Clearly....they've met. So.......what's the beef? Hollywood insider Nikki Finke tweeted....
Hmmmm. Have either Steve or John spoken out? Nope.
It's called being professional.
UPDATE:
TheWrap has published an insider's look at the feud between John and Steve. And it's juicy....
McQueen tapped Ridley to work on a separate slavery-themed project that eventually led to “12 Years a Slave” after McQueen’s wife discovered the book, which Ridley subsequently agreed to adapt on spec. McQueen had a hand in shaping the script that Ridley turned in, but when he asked the writer for shared credit — not uncommon in Hollywood — Ridley politely declined.....
McQueen was nonplussed and appealed to Fox Searchlight, which ultimately sided with Ridley. Brad Pitt, who produced “Slave” and plays a small role in the film, was even forced to step in at one point and mediate.
Wait....it gets better (or worse)....
At the BAFTA Awards, Steve allegedly "berated Ridley’s wife while the writer was in the bathroom, trying to snatch up her BAFTA souvenirs and leaving her in tears" And, Steve "insisted that the writer be seated at separate tables at awards shows late in the season, including the BAFTAs."
Read more about the feud here.
Check out the side-eye:
In other entertainment news....
Kanye West (shown above at Celine show this weekend in Paris) and his creative house DONDA have entered into a partnership with Roc Nation to manage all DONDA Music.
The partnership will focus on Mr. West's international recording brand and worldwide touring ventures. DONDA has created a 2009 footwear collaboration with fashion house Louis Vuitton, and numerous fashion and apparel brands around the globe, including Nike and Adidas and Parisian brand A.P.C.
DONDA is also responsible for the YEEZUS Tour and album packing, the short film Cruel Summer, and the “New Slaves” projections.
The Randomness:
1. Shots fired at Diddy's CIAA Party in CHarlotte, NC. Story.
Photos via Getty
