Journalist denies confusing Daniel Kaluuya for Leslie Odom Jr. at the Oscars after asking Regina King question
- Daniel Kaluuya won an Oscar for "Judas and the Black Messiah," which was directed by Shaka King.
- A journalist and HFPA member asked Kaluuya what it was like to work with Regina King, instead.
- Regina King directed "One Night In Miami," which starred supporting actor nominee Leslie Odom Jr.
A journalist and member of the Hollywood Foreign Press Association has apologized for asking Daniel Kaluuya what it was like to work with Regina King, a director he has never worked with.
The South African journalist, Margaret Gardiner, was speaking to Kaluuya straight after his Oscar win for best supporting actor at Sunday night's 93rd Academy Awards. He won for "Judas and the Black Messiah," which was directed by Shaka King.
Regina King directed "One Night in Miami," which was also nominated for best supporting actor for its star, Leslie Odom Jr.
Gardiner asked Kaluuya "what it meant for [him] to be directed by Regina [King]."
Gardiner has now tweeted an apology for the incident: "Daniel Kaluuya I did not mistake you for Leslie Odom Jnr. I'm sorry if it seemed that way. I had wanted to ask about Regina King not being nominated as a director for 'One Night in Miami,' and your win for 'Judas and the Black Messiah' for the community at this time."
Gardiner explained the incident further, saying that "there was a sound issue so I dropped the part about Regina King and restated my question."
"When I listed [sic] to the audio, I do understand, but there was no confusion," Gardiner said.
Gardiner then tweeted: "This is my last tweet on my mistake. I apologize to Daniel Kaluuya for my words. I apologize to anyone else who was offended by them."
Kaluuya, who was clearly taken aback by the mistake and asked her to repeat her question, did answer Gardiner: "It's amazing to have this honor and to be appreciated in this way."
Gardiner then asked Kaluuya if his win meant more for "the community." This was also criticized, with film producer and founder of The Black List, Franklin Leonard, tweeting: "There's a dissertation to be written about this interaction and this interaction alone. State of the system in one minute… Even mere minutes after you win an #Oscar for playing Fred Hampton. Even then."
Still, Kaluuya answered the question again: "What means something to the community is people pouring into each other and protecting each other and defending each other and guiding each other."
This comes during a time when the HFPA, the organization that conducts the Golden Globes, has been criticized for its lack of diversity both in membership and in nominations. Last week, a leaked email showed former HFPA president Philip Berk calling Black Lives Matter a "hate movement."
Berk, 88, has now been expelled from the HFPA.