It’s been three decades since his landmark films She’s Gotta Have It and Do The Right Thing – and now Spike Lee finally has a competitive Oscar. He already has an honorary Oscar, which he won in 2016.
He didn’t win this time for best director – he won best adapted screenplay for BlackKklansman, which tells the true story of a black police officer who infiltrated the Ku Klux Klan.
In his speech, he referred to the 400th anniversary of the first slaves being taken to America.
He then made the most political remarks of the night, saying: “The 2020 presidential election is around the corner. Let’s all mobilise. Let’s all be on the right side of history. Make the moral choice between love versus hate.”
He added: “Let’s do the right thing. You know I had to get that in there.”
Speaking after the ceremony, he said “the ref made bad call” when asked about Green Book’s best picture win.