After director Andrew Jarecki publicly dared Alabama Governor Kay Ivey and Attorney General Steve Marshall to attend the Oscars, his film “The Alabama Solution” didn’t even win out in the category it was nominated for.
On Sunday night, the 98th Academy Awards was held in Hollywood, and a documentary profiling the state’s prison system was among the nominees for “Best Documentary.”
The award ultimately went to a film about resistance to Russia’s war in Ukraine, leaving Jarecki empty handed.
Earlier this month, Jarecki appeared on “The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon” and extended an invitation to Ivey and Marshall to join him at the Oscars.
“We reached out to [Governor Ivey] and invited her and invited Steve Marshall, in the hope that there can be some kind of, you know, realistic meeting of the minds,” Jarecki said.
“Have you heard back?” Jimmy Fallon asked.
“We have not heard back yet. But we’re hopeful,” the director replied.
He did not hear back. Many viewed the invitation as a publicity stunt. Including Attorney General Steve Marshall.
“Here’s what I also know: it is radicals like Jarecki and Fallon who are simply soft on crime. They’re more worried about releasing people from prisons than they are about ensuring public safety,” Marshall said in his response.
“Keep your Oscars. We’ll keep our values. Protecting victims and not celebrating criminals.”
Grayson Everett is the editor in chief of Yellowhammer News. You can follow him on X @Grayson270.
