NEW YORK — Fox News commentator Stacey Dash dismissed the outrage over the lack of African-American Oscar nominees as “ludicrous.”
Dash, an African-American actress and contributor to the network, also said on Wednesday’s “Fox & Friends” that to obtain integration there should be no Black History Month, award shows that honor African-Americans, or BET, a channel that focuses on African-American entertainment.
“We have to make up our minds. Either we want to have segregation or integration, and if we don’t want segregation, then we have to get rid of channels like BET and the BET Awards and the Image Awards, where you’re only awarded if you’re black,” Dash said. “If it were the other way around, we would be up in arms. It’s a double standard.”
Dash continued, “There shouldn’t be a Black History Month. We’re Americans, period. That’s it.”
Fox & Friends host Steve Doocy followed up asking Dash, “Do you think there shouldn’t be a black history month because there isn’t a white history month?”
“Exactly, exactly,” Dash said nodding.
Dash’s comments come as director Spike Lee and actress Jada Pinkett Smith said they would protest the Oscars because all of the acting nominees this year were white.
She also responded to Al Sharpton’s criticisms of the Oscars when he said, “Hollywood is like the Rocky Mountains, the higher up you get the whiter it gets.”
“That’s not necessarily true. If it is then that needs to change,” Dash said. “What I find astounding is that we’ve had a president who is black in office for the past eight years who gets most of his funding from the liberal elite in Hollywood. Yet, there are not many roles for people of color. How can that be?”
Dash’s blunt views have drawn fire before. She was suspended by the cable news network last month for using profanities while criticizing President Obama, saying she “didn’t give a sh–” about one of his speeches.
Following Dash’s comments, BET released a statement explaining that since its inception the network has been a place where African-Americans “could consistently see themselves represented and celebrated.”
“Through our award shows and programming we have recognized incredible talent that simply does not get recognized elsewhere,” Debra Lee, CEO of BET Networks said in a statement. “African American contributions to American culture are countless and we cannot and should not wait for anyone to acknowledge them.”
The network also tweeted at the actress asking her if it can get its pay check back from her performance on the network’s series, “The Game.”
Fox News did not immediately reply with comment for this story.
