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Lee tried to storm out of the Dolby Theatre
just after "Green Book" was announced the winner at the end of
the Oscar show, according to various media accounts, then came
back to his seat, where he turned his back on the stage during
"Green Book" acceptance speeches.
"Green Book," based on a true story of the unlikely friendship
between a black pianist and his white driver touring the
racially segregated U.S. Deep South during the 1960s, also won
for best original screenplay and supporting actor, Mahershala
Ali.
In the press room backstage, Lee recalled that a previous racial
drama of his, "Do The Right Thing," had failed to earn a best
picture nomination for the Oscars in 1989, the year that the
film "Driving Miss Daisy" - about a black chauffer for a white
elderly Southern woman - won the award.
"I'm snakebit. Every time someone is driving somebody, I lose,"
Lee told reporters in response to a question about his reaction
to the win for "Green Book."
The director, a big fan of the National Basketball Association's
New York Knicks, recounted when he heard "Green Book" announced
as the year's best picture winner, "I thought I was courtside at
the (Madison Square) Garden, and the ref made a bad call."
Lee won an Oscar on Sunday for best adapted screenplay as a
co-writer for "BlacKkKlansman." Other writers from the film
declined to address Lee's reaction to the outcome of the best
picture contest.
"We're just glad to be here, glad we won," said "BlacKkKlansman"
co-writer Kevin Willmott. "It's a real breakthrough that any
film about race gets to win."
Some critics faulted "Green Book" for portraying a white
character, in this film played by Viggo Mortensen, as the main
protagonist in a film about discrimination against black people.
The film also sparked controversy months ago when relatives of
the pianist at the center of the story, Don Shirley, complained
his depiction in the movie contained inaccuracies. Ali, who
played Shirley in the film, has said he respects the family and
had spoken with them.
In addition, accusations of sexual impropriety by director Peter
Farrelly from the 1990s resurfaced after the film's release.
Farrelly has apologized for his conduct.
(Reporting by Bill Tarrant in Los Angeles; Additional reporting
by Alex Dobuzinskis in Los Angeles; editing by Steve Gorman and
Jonathan Oatis)
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