Two-Time Oscar Nominee Djimon Hounsou Reveals Financial Struggles and Racism in Hollywood

• Hollywood star Djimon Hounsou, reveals his financial hardship.   
• Hounsou also denounced systemic racism in the film industry.   
• His revelations highlight the industry’s struggles with equity for Black actors

Renowned actor Djimon Hounsou, known for his roles in acclaimed films like “Blood Diamond” and “Gladiator,” has revealed he is facing financial hardship despite a successful career spanning two decades in Hollywood.   

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In an interview with CNN’s African Voices Changemakers, Hounsou, a two-time Oscar nominee, expressed his frustration with the industry’s treatment of him.

“I’m still struggling to make a living,” he confessed.

“I’ve been in the filmmaking business for over two decades, with two Oscar nominations and many blockbuster films, and yet, I’m still struggling financially. I’m definitely underpaid.”   

Hounsou also spoke candidly about the pervasive racism he has encountered in Hollywood.

He recalled being overlooked for an Oscar nomination despite receiving a Golden Globe for his performance in “Amistad,” a film that explored the harrowing journey of enslaved Africans.   

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“They ignored me for the Oscars because they thought that I had just come off the boat and the streets,” Hounsou said.

“Even though I successfully did that, they just didn’t feel like I was an actor to whom they should pay any respect. This conceptual idea of diversity still has a long way to go. Systemic racism won’t change like that anytime soon.”   

Hounsou’s revelations serve as a stark reminder of the systemic inequalities that persist within the entertainment industry, even for highly acclaimed actors.

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