According to Associated Press reporter Andrew Dalton, the director "was visibly angry when 'Green Book' was announced as the winner of best picture at the Oscars" on Sunday night, then appeared "to try to storm out of the Dolby Theatre."
Spike Lee was visibly angry when "Green Book" was announced as the winner of best picture at the Oscars, waving his arms in disgust and appearing to try to storm out of the Dolby Theatre before he was stopped at the doors. He returned to his seat when the speeches were over.
— Andrew Dalton (@andyjamesdalton) February 25, 2019
Some critics have blasted "Green Book," which tells the story of black pianist Don Shirley and his white driver, as a "white savior" film, CBS News reported.
After the ceremony, Lee, whose film, "BlacKkKlansman," was a best picture nominee and won the Oscar for best adapted screenplay, opened up to reporters.
"I'm snake-bit. I mean, every time somebody's driving somebody, I lose. But they changed the seating arrangement," he said, referring to "Driving Miss Daisy's" best picture win in 1990. Lee's film, "Do The Right Thing," was nominated for best original screenplay that year, but not best picture, according to the AP.
When a reporter asked about Lee's response to the "Green Book" win, Lee, who was holding a glass of sparkling wine, joked that he needed to "take another sip."
"I thought it was courtside at the Garden, and the ref made a bad call," he added.
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