Movies & TV / News

Spike Lee Wins First Oscar, Tells Voters to ‘Do the Right Thing in 2020’

February 24, 2019 | Posted by Jeffrey Harris

Writer and director Spike Lee won the first Academy Award for his career. He took home the Oscar for Best Adapted Screenplay tonight for his film BlacKkKlansman. You can check out a video of his acceptance speech from tonight’s broadcast below.

BlacKkKlansman was up for six Academy Awards, including Best Director and Best Picture. However, this was the only award it took home tonight. Lee was previously nominated for 1989’s Do the Right Thing for Best Screenplay and 1998’s 4 Little Girls for Best Documentary. Lee won the award alongside Charlie Wachtel, Kevin Willmott, and David Rabinowitz.

The film is based on a true story and follows the African American detective Ron Stallworth, who infiltrates the city’s local Ku Klux Klan chapter by posing as a white supremacist.

During his acceptance speech, Spike Lee did not directly United States President Donald Trump, but he did mention the 2020 election. He stated: “The 2020 presidential election is around the corner. Let’s all mobilize, let’s all be on the right side of history. Make the moral choice between love versus hate. Let’s do the right the thing! You know I had to get that in there.” The speech received a standing ovation.

Check out the full Academy Awards results RIGHT HERE.