Now that the Academy Awards have concluded, the #OscarsSoWhite controversy will soon go back on the shelf (at least until next year’s ceremony). Before it dies down, however, Break has managed to get in one more piece of social commentary. The media company produced a prank that mirrored a similar stunt it pulled during last year’s Oscars. This year, though, there was a twist: The man at the center of the prank was black, not white, and he received very different treatment.
The original prank was simple: Comedian Mark David Christenson dressed up in a tuxedo, carried around a fake statuette, and pretended to be an Oscar winner. As a result, he received free stuff throughout the night, ranging from cabs to drinks to exclusive party invites.
The 2016 version of the prank featured Bill Posley in place of Christenson. Posley is black, and throughout his night, he received many fewer favors, despite wearing his own tux and carrying an identical statuette. By the end of the prank, the cops have been called, and Posley is forced to abandon prank.
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Critics of the prank could say that Posley’s attitude, demeanor, and confidence were not sufficiently “Oscar-like,” but for the most part, he acted exactly as Christenson did, and did not receive the same treatment. It’s hard to think of a video that could better exemplify white privilege in such a succinct manner, and even though Hollywood’s annual award show has already had its yearly moment, Break’s latest prank is worth checking out.
