Why Don Cheadle Isn't Enthusiastic About the Oscars

Don Cheadle received a best actor Oscar nomination in 2005 for his role in "Hotel Rwanda." However, he doesn't particularly enjoy attending the Academy Awards.

In a recent interview with CNN, Cheadle mentioned, "You won’t ever see me at the Oscars unless I’m presenting or I’m nominated. And as soon as they don’t say my name, the game is how fast can you get out of there."

Cheadle shared that for him, it's not about winning or losing at award ceremonies. He expressed his dislike for how these events turn creative work into a subjective competition.

He explained his perspective, stating that the Oscars, for example, being a contest between artists is a concept that he struggles with. Cheadle highlighted the difficulty in comparing works like 'Barbie' and 'Oppenheimer' as they belong to completely different realms.

“That’s not really why we do it or why we’ve gotten into this,” he said.

Adrien Brody and then Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences President Frank Pierson announcing the best actor winner at the Academy Awards in 2005. Jamie Foxx won for his performance in "Ray."

Adrien Brody and then Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences President Frank Pierson announced the best actor winner at the Academy Awards in 2005. Jamie Foxx won for his performance in "Ray." Kevin Winter/Getty Images

After being nominated for awards, the publicity work that follows is a whole different ball game, according to Cheadle.

He explained, "The campaign around it is like, oh my God, you get nominated and you're like, that's cool. And then they're like, okay, now you have to show up here and here and here, and do this and that. And you're like, oh, wait a minute," he said with a laugh.

Attending award shows as an audience member can be stressful, according to Cheadle.

He shared, "For me personally, it’s hard because when you’re at the Oscars, you are the show. If you’re in the audience, those cameras are on. You never know when you’re in the show. Like, how can you talk s**t?"

He does appreciate when his friends win, but “ultimately we understand what this is.”

“This is about business and you can’t really compare artists in this way,” he said.

Cheadle recently chatted with CNN while on the set of “Fight Night: The Million Dollar Heist.” This upcoming limited series will focus on an armed robbery that occurred during Muhammad Ali's fight in Atlanta in 1970. Cheadle takes on the role of Detective JD Hudson, who is known as "one of Atlanta's first Black detectives assigned to Ali's security team and involved in the robbery."

Scheduled to premiere next year on Peacock, the show will also feature Taraji P. Henson, Samuel L. Jackson, Terrence Howard, Kevin Hart, and Dexter Darden.

Cheadle expressed his excitement about working with Sam, Taraji, Terrance, and Kevin again, mentioning that he and Kevin have been discussing collaborating for a while. The project is based on real-life events and has been enjoyable for him.

In addition to working on this project, Cheadle found time to film a stylish new commercial for PopCorners. He joins George Clooney and Brad Pitt from the "Oceans" franchise in being featured in ad campaigns for the brand.

“Well, they backed the truck up,” Cheadle joked about his decision to do the spot, though said he actually enjoys the snack.

“It’s a great alternative to fried snacks,” he said.

The commercial takes place in a speakeasy, where there are party attendees and a live band. Actor Cheadle mentioned that he enjoyed working with the creative team and coming up with ideas for the concept. He believes that setting a high standard is important for projects like this.

A good rule of thumb for a lot of life, he added.

“If you’re going to be like, why did I do that, then that’s not fun,” he said.

Healthy snacks are fun. Award shows, not so much. Noted, Don.

Editor's P/S:

Don Cheadle's perspectives on award ceremonies offer a refreshing take on the competitive nature of the entertainment industry. His belief that comparing artistic works like "Barbie" and "Oppenheimer" is futile highlights the subjectivity and limitations of such competitions. Cheadle's discomfort with the subsequent publicity and scrutiny surrounding award nominations further underscores his belief that the creative process should not be reduced to a matter of winning or losing.

Cheadle's experiences as a nominee and audience member at the Oscars reveal the stressful and artificial nature of these events. The constant scrutiny and pressure to perform for the cameras make it difficult for attendees to genuinely enjoy the occasion. His recognition of the business aspect of award shows and his understanding that artists cannot be compared in such a simplistic manner demonstrate a level of maturity and self-awareness that is admirable. awards experience. Cheadle's insights challenge the traditional notion of the Oscars as a celebration of excellence and instead reveal them as a business-oriented enterprise that distorts the value of artistic endeavors.