Spike Lee Stokes Donald Trump Anger Following Oscar Speech

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Samuel L. Jackson Ponders a Spike Lee Oscar Win.

When you’ve been waiting for over 30 years to win an Oscar, you have to make your acceptance speech count. Post the big ceremony in the press room, Spike Lee revealed that he actually had two speeches written last night when we walked up in front of the audience in the Dolby Theater in LA to accept his Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay with “BlacKkKlansman.” It was his first ever Academy Award win. One, was dedicated to thanking people who helped him in his storied three decade plus career. The other was the one he read.

“The word today is ‘irony,’ the Brooklyn visionary, clad in a purple suit which paid homage to Prince, said moments into his speech Sunday night. “The date, the 24th. The month of February, which happens to be the shortest month of the year, which also happens to be Black History month. The year, 2019; the year, 1619. History, her story. 1619, 2019, 400 years. Four hundred years, our ancestors were stolen from Africa and brought to Jamestown, Virginia, to be enslaved. Our ancestors worked the land from morning to night.”

Lee went on to explain how his grandmother lived to 100 and saved 50 years of Social Security checks to put him through Morehouse College and NYU Film school and delved into politics.

“Before the world tonight, I can praise our ancestors who helped build this country into what it was today along with the genocide of its native people,” he added. “If we all connect with our ancestors, we will have love wisdom and regain our humanity. It will be a powerful moment. The 2020 presidential election is around the corner! Let's all mobilize, let's all be on the right side of history. Make the moral choice between love versus hate. Let's ‘do the right thing!’ You know I had to get that in there.”

On Monday, the President retorted on social media, calling Lee’s words “racist.”

"Be nice if Spike Lee could read his notes, or better yet not have to use notes at all, when doing his racist hit on your President, who has done more for African Americans (Criminal Justice Reform, Lowest Unemployment numbers in History, Tax Cuts, etc.) than almost any other Pres!" Trump tweeted.

After the Oscars, Lee had more to say about how Trump is running the country. He admonished the Commander-In-Chief for not taking a tougher stand concerning domestic terrorism.

“I do know that the coda of this film [‘BlacKkKlansman’] where we saw homegrown red white and blue terrorism…,” Lee answered in the media room when asked about how his latest film has changed America society and the country’s awareness of the current KKK. “Heather Heyer, her murder was a homegrown terrorist act. When that car drove down that crowded street in Charleston, VA and the President of the United States did not refute. Did not denounce the Klan, The Alt Right, and Neo Nazis, this film--whether we won Best Picture or not--this film will stand the test of time being on the right side of history.”

Lee’s “BlacKkKlansman” was also nominated for Best Picture but ultimately that award was given to “Green Book.” Alfonso Cuaron who helmed “Roma” won over Lee in the category.

Samuel Jackson Doubted A Spike Lee Best Director Oscar Win

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The Oscars came and went last night, and undoubtedly one of the people to watch was legendary director Spike Lee. He was hard to miss, decked out in one of a kind, gold Michael Jordan 3s, specially commissioned by His Airness, himself. Lee's “BlacKkKlansman” film went toe to toe with other Best Pictures nominees “Bohemian Rhapsody,” “The Favourite,” “Green Book,” “Roma,” “A Star is Born,” “Vice” and the cultural event of 2018 “Black Panther.”
Meanwhile, the Academy has finally cleaned up one of most staggering omissions: finally nominating the Brooklyn born Lee in the category of Best Director.

Nope, not even any of his early classics such as “Do The Right Thing,” “Mo Better Blues,” “Jungle Fever” not the epic “Malcom X” garnered him any recognition in that category. On Thursday, while being honored at the Icon Mann along with the director and famed costume designer Ruth E. Carter, one of Spike’s closest friends and a co-star in some of those early gems, Samuel L. Jackson told LiveXLive he was pessimistic that the iconic lens man would walk away with an Oscar.

“You really thinks he’s gonna win?” The box office champion would ask sarcastically. “In every award show he’s been to, has he won? That’s usually a sign of what going to happen.”

Jackson, credited Lee's casting of him as the crack addicted Gator in 1991’s “Jungle Fever” as the major breakthrough in his career. And he acknowledged that whether or not his Capital One-commercials co-star gets an award, Lee’s contribution to filmmaking is immeasurable nonetheless.

“There have been surprises. There have been mistakes,” Jackson added. “Spike’s already a winner in our minds and hearts and we’ll forever champion him. All these young directors that came behind him had an opportunity to do what they do because Spike was able to do what he did.”

In the end, Jackson was right and Lee did not walk away with the Oscar for Best Director, losing to “Roma’s” Alfonso Cuaron, nor Best Picture, losing to “Green Book." However, the man did score his first ever Oscar, taking home the Best Adapted Screenplay. His appearance on stage created one of the night’s most memorable moments, and finally gave long overdue acknowledgment to one of Brooklyn’s best. Perhaps those elusive Director and Picture awards will still be in his sure-to-be fascinating future.