Andrea Riseborough's Oscar nomination for To Leslie will stand

Although the specific tactics weren't mentioned by name, they were easy to spot: As awards season came to a head, celebrities began sharing similar enthusiastic statements of support to Andrea Riseborough, as well as an Instagram post from the official film review named a contestant actress, which is apparently a big no-no under the Academy's campaign guidelines. This is a debate that goes far beyond the power of a grassroots campaign.

On the one hand, Riseborough's accolade from the Academy reveals how hypocritical its guidelines against aggressive campaigns are, as it's very obvious that studios invest in campaigns all the time to their stars. On the other hand, Riseborough's nomination once again exposed the Academy's long history of not recognizing black women, as category leaders like Viola Davis ("The Woman King") and Danielle Deadwyler ("Till") were kicked out of the race as Riseborough landed a nod.

The Academy's Board of Governors would meet every year after the Oscars to discuss potential changes to their rules and regulations, and it looks like this year could see some changes. “Given this review, it is evident that elements of the regulations need to be clarified to help create a better framework for respectful, inclusive and unbiased campaigning,” Kramer said. "These changes will be made after this rewards cycle and will be shared with our members." While they close loopholes, hopefully, the Academy can take a hard look at a system that could benefit some artists while leaving others out in the cold. Kramer promises that the Academy "strives to create an environment where votes are based solely on the artistic and technical merits of eligible films and achievements."

The Oscars telecast will take place on March 12, 2023.