Djimon Hounsou Talks About Hollywood Racism and Financial Difficulties
BenineseDespite working in the film industry for more than 20 years, American actor Djimon Hounsou, who is renowned for his strong performances in movies like Gladiator and Blood Diamond, has recently talked about his continuous financial difficulties.
Hounsou stated that he still faces major financial difficulties, which he attributes to being underpaid in Hollywood, in an interview on CNN’s African Voices Changemakers.
“I’m still having trouble earning a living. Even after more than 20 years in the film industry, two Oscar nominations, and other successful productions, I continue to face financial difficulties. Despite having a long career, Hounsou expressed his discontent by saying, “I’m definitely underpaid.”
Hounsou talked about his encounters with racism in Hollywood as well. He recalled that despite winning a Golden Globe, he was not nominated for an Academy Award. “They disregarded me for the Oscars because they believed that I had just stepped off the boat and onto the streets, even though I was nominated for the Golden Globe,” he stated. “Even though I was able to accomplish that, they simply didn’t think I was a respectable actor.”
Hounsou underlined that although the industry is placing more emphasis on diversity, real equality and inclusivity are still a long way off. There is still more work to be done on this mental notion of diversity. He said, “Systemic racism won’t change like that anytime soon.”
Hounsou has acted in a number of well-known movies throughout the years, such as Furious 7, Amistad, Constantine, Guardians of the Galaxy, and Aquaman. Although he has a devoted following and received critical acclaim for his performances, his open admissions underscore the continued difficulties that actors of color in Hollywood confront.
