Oscars to Double Female and Minority Members

Academy president Cheryl Boone Isaacs announced the changes following a backlash over the lack of diversity in this year’s nominations. The organizers of the Oscars have pledged to double number of female and minority members of the Academy by 2020.Three new seats will be added to the Academy’s board of governors to improve diversity in leadership.

Several top industry figures have said they will not attend the Oscars. Actor Will Smith and director Spike Lee are among those to announce they will not be going to February’s Academy Awards, after it emerged no black or minority actors had been nominated in the four Oscars acting categories for the second year running.