“I want to congratulate you on this,” Gardiner told Kaluuya. “I’ve been following you since the beginning of your career, and I was wondering what it meant for you to be directed by Regina [King], what this means for you at this time with the world in the state that it’s in.”

Kaluuya responded by telling Gardiner, “Say that question again, please,” although it was unclear if that was because of an audio issue or because he was confused by her question about him working with Regina King. When Gardiner asked her question again, she reframed it and did not mention Regina King. Related 2023 Brings a Diverse Set of Oscar Contenders. Will the Final Nominees Reflect that? ‘Living’: The Prime of Mr. Bill Nighy Related New Movies: Release Calendar for December 23, Plus Where to Watch the Latest Films Guillermo del Toro’s Favorite Movies: 45 Films the Director Wants You to See
IndieWire deputy editor Kate Erbland, who was also in the virtual Oscars press room, confirmed that Gardiner’s question initially seemed framed as if Kaluuya had starred in a film directed by Regina King. Erbland added that when Gardiner asked the question again, she omitted the portion about King, seemingly catching her mistake and attempting to gloss over it. Gardiner took to social media the day after the Oscars to claim she did not confuse Kaluuya for Odom, writing on Twitter, “Daniel Kaluuya, I did not mistake you for Leslie Odom Jr. 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.” “I had wanted to ask him about winning at this moment. … It’s a zeitgeist moment of people finally recognizing the inequalities of organizations,” Gardiner told The Los Angeles Times. “When I said it, it came out that he couldn’t hear me.” “I’m sorry you assume I can’t tell these two talented men apart,” Gardiner tweeted in a reply to critics. “I messed up my question. I won’t be believed. I apologize to Daniel, the assumption reflects the very world I wanted to ask about. I cannot defend this. I apologize.” The controversy is the latest gaffe involving a member of the Hollywood Foreign Press Association, the organization that votes for the Golden Globes. The HFPA has been at the center of scandals for months now, most recently expelling former president Philip Berk for declaring Black Lives Matter a “racist hate movement.”

Read the full winner’s list: https://t.co/Udr9FyooKe pic.twitter.com/NR0bCJdIV1 — DiscussingFilm (@DiscussingFilm) April 26, 2021 Sign Up: Stay on top of the latest breaking film and TV news! Sign up for our Email Newsletters here.