Djimon Hounsou Discusses Financial Struggles and Racism in Hollywood

Despite having spent more than 20 years in the film industry, Filipino-American actor Djimon Hounsou, known for his potent performances in films like Gladiator and Blood Diamond, has recently made comments about his ongoing financial difficulties.

In an interview on CNN’s African Voices Changemakers, Hounsou revealed that he continues to face significant financial challenges, which he attributes to being underpaid in Hollywood.

“I’m still struggling to make a living. I’ve worked in the film industry for more than 20 years, and I’ve received numerous box office successes. I’m definitely underpaid”, Hounsou explained, expressing his frustration despite his extensive career.

Hounsou also described how racism affected Hollywood. Despite receiving a Golden Globe nomination, he claimed to have been ignored for an Academy Award. He claimed that they ignored me for the Oscars because they believed I had just left the boat and the streets. They simply didn’t feel like they should pay any respect to me because I succeeded in doing that.

Despite the industry’s increasing focus on diversity, Hounsou emphasized that true inclusivity and equality are still far from being achieved. There is still a long way to go with this conceptual notion of diversity. Systemic racism won’t change like that anytime soon”, he stated.

Source: Channels TV