Spike Lee Wins First Competitive Oscar of His Career for ‘BlacKkKlansman’

Congratulations to highly revered and respected director Spike Lee, who just won his first competitive Academy Award after receiving five nominations. Lee took home the ‘Best Adapted Screenplay’ Oscar for his 2018 hit, BlacKkKlansman. Good friend and frequent collaborator Samuel L. Jackson excitedly announced the Brooklyn native as the winner, after which Lee jumped into his arms onstage.

The filmmaker addressed the upcoming presidential race during his acceptance speech, saying, “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 thing!”

President Trump responded to Lee’s commentary via Twitter, writing, “Be nice if Spike Lee could read his notes, or better yet not have to use notes at all, when doing his racist hit on your President, who has done more for African Americans (Criminal Justice Reform, Lowest Unemployment numbers in History, Tax Cuts,etc.) than almost any other Pres!”

Lee was previously nominated for Academy Awards for Best Original Screenplay (for 1989’s Do the Right Thing) and Best Documentary Feature (for 1997’s 4 Little Girls). This year, he also received Best Director and Best Picture nods for BlacKkKlansman. The director was awarded an honorary Oscar in 2016.