Racially-themed horror film "Get Out" has been submitted to compete in the Golden Globes comedy category, and Twitter is divided over the decision. A perfect storm of outrage is brewing between social justice warriors talking about racism and film buffs trying to explain how satire works.
Released in February, the movie (about a black man who meets his white girlfriend's parents and discovers a hellish conspiracy involving racism, kidnapping and brain surgery) became an instant hit, bringing in $33.4 million on opening weekend and a total of $253.4 million worldwide.
Putting "Get Out" in the Comedy/Musical category for the Golden Globes puts the film, director Jordan Peele and star Daniel Kaluuya up against movies like "The Greatest Showman," "I, Tonya," Kumail Nanjiani's "The Big Sick" and James Franco's "The Disaster Artist" -- a move that seemed odd for people who found the film profoundly terrifying.
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View StoryEven actor Lil Rel Howery, who played a particularly funny part in the film as TSA officer Rod Williams, expressed a little uncertainty about the decision.
But if I can be honest this is weird to me... Their is nothing funny about racism... Was it that unrealistic lol https://t.co/5xSXBmatfP
@LilRel4
Meanwhile, fans who loved the film's satirical themes about race in America were divided on whether a Golden Globes nomination in the comedy category would trivialize racism, trivialize comedy or all of the above.
White people are REALLY insistent today that calling GET OUT a comedy somehow trivializes it. It makes me realizes they didn't understand it and they also look down on comedy as a genre.
@ira
The fact that Get Out was nominated for a comedy shows how some ppl didn't take it seriously and get the point of the film. That movie is a horror film, and the monster was racism.
@HandsomeAnHeavy
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View StoryWhite privilege is watching "Get Out" and thinking it was funny. https://t.co/jZfbfEUDen
@Blaqzenon
What part of Get out was funny? The caucacity! pic.twitter.com/726L8XOO8U
@duchace
'Get Out' was brilliant and could only be considered comedy by those to whom Black lives mean nothing #BoycottGoldenGlobes pic.twitter.com/7j47nzEQ1Z
@NefertariNkenge
Get Out competing in the Golden Globes as a "Comedy" is a slap in the face to black people everywhere and a clear indicator that those in charge of these awarding institutions are completely clueless when it comes to the matter of racism.
@thisQPOClife
Then there were fans who took a more pragmatic view of the film industry, pointing out that horror films have been historically neglected by awards shows and submitting "Get Out" as a comedy gives it a better chance of winning.
i see lots of ppl suggesting the Globes are being shady with this nomination but they really aren't. it was a strategic move for Get Out
@chescaleigh
We're quick to get mad about this thing with Get Out but it was a satirical film created by a comedian....
@caramelambition
Some of y'all are doing a lot with “Get Out” being placed in a comedy category. The studio and the people behind the film want awards and concluded that is their best shot. The end. God bless.
@youngsinick
Biggest laugh is who all is mad but didn't read the story to know it's about Get Out being *submitted* as a comedy, not *classified* as one.
@CraigSJ
They entered Get Out as a comedy in order to increase its chances of getting awards because horror movies usually don't.
@Exhibit__J
People with pink hair still called it white supremacy 😂
Family Guy was right 😭 pic.twitter.com/iXUw5slZbq
this Get Out category thing has a lot to do with how completely the critical establishment dismisses horror movies more than any other broad genre I can think of.
@PlanetofFinks
But it was the film's director Jordan Peele, previously known for his Comedy Central show "Key & Peele" with fellow comedian Keegan-Michael Key, who had the last word.
'Get Out' is a documentary.
@JordanPeele
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