Doc winner trashes Chris Rock for 'white guys' remark

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Joseph Patel, one of the producers on the Oscar-winning documentary Summer of Soul (…Or, When the Revolution Could Not Be Televised), tore into Chris Rock for his presentation of the category during Sunday’s ceremony.

After he was slapped by Will Smith for making a joke about his wife, Rock referred to Patel and the producers other than Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson as a group of “four white guys.”

“The reason that makes me SO SO VERY ANGRY is because I was so proud to be one of a handful of South Asians to have ever won an Oscar in the history of the award,” Patel wrote in a since-deleted Twitter rant, per Variety.

“I was ecstatic that I was the 3RD South Asian to win that night – after Riz (Ahmed) and Aneil Karia won earlier in the night for (best live action short winner) The Long Goodbye. Three South Asians winning on the same night – that’s never happened before! And it’s meaningful! It’s history!”

When one

Patel went on to add that the actions of Smith and Rock ruined the night for everyone involved.

“What both Will AND Chris did really stained what should have been a beautiful moment for us,” he added. “Also it goes without saying I speak for me and me alone. Not Ahmir and not our co-producers.”

Patel added that he couldn’t re-watch his winning moment.

“I’m angry. Angry at Will Smith. Angry at Chris Rock. Angry for me. Angry for Ahmir. Angry for my fellow filmmakers,” Patel added. “I got back home to New York last night and saw the ceremony on my DVR and didn’t have the stomach to watch it. I probably never will. Thank you, Chris — you absolute f—ing d—.”

mdaniell@postmedia.com