Oscars Announce Diverse Mix of Presenters
Benicio Del Toro, Kevin Hart and Whoopi Goldberg will take the stage.
— -- The producers of the Oscars have announced the first round of presenters for the upcoming ceremony and it's more diverse than the list of acting nominees.
Several celebrities were named presenters on Thursday, including Benicio Del Toro, Whoopi Goldberg and Kevin Hart. The other presenters revealed so far are Tina Fey, Ryan Gosling, Charlize Theron and 9-year-old "Room" star Jacob Tremblay.
"Each of these artists brings a wonderfully distinctive element to the Oscars stage," Oscar producers David Hill and Reginald Hudlin said in a statement. "Together they represent the many thrilling ways stories can be shared about the human experience, and we're honored they will be part of the celebration."
This year's Oscars have come under fire because of the all-white field of acting nominees. Will Smith and his wife, Jada Pinkett Smith, as well as Spike Lee, have said they will not attend the ceremony, which will be held Feb. 28. Chris Rock will host the ABC telecast.
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences responded to the controversy last week, announcing an overhaul of its membership policy. The organization's board voted unanimously to make the voting members "significantly" more diverse, with the goal to double the number of women and diverse members by 2020.