Peele ‘ugly-cried’ on hearing the news
Jordan Peele couldn’t keep his tears at bay after Get Out’s four Oscar nominations Tuesday.
The director, who was nominated for best picture, director and original screenplay, tweeted that he couldn’t disguise his “ugly cry” while on the phone with the film’s lead, Daniel Kaluuya (who’s up for best actor).
“I just spoke to Daniel. You know when you’re on the phone trying to disguise the sound of an ugly cry? I failed at that,” Peele wrote.
By phone with USA TODAY, Peele explained why. “When I heard about the Daniel nomination, that’s the one that really broke me. That’s the one that made me cry,” he says.
“I can’t overexaggerate how much kinship I feel with that guy.”
That wasn’t the only big news in the Peele household Tuesday morning. His 6-month-old son, Beau, with wife Chelsea Peretti, slept through the night for the first time.
“It was a totally victorious morning. It was a family-wide celebration,” he laughed. “For us, that was just as exciting as the nominations.”
Peele made history Tuesday morning as the fifth black man to be nominated for best director, following Lee Daniels ( Precious) John Singleton ( Boyz n the
Hood), Steve McQueen ( 12 Years A Slave) and Barry Jenkins ( Moonlight).
He’s also the the third person to receive best-picture, directing and writing nominations for his first feature film.
Peele teared up on the phone as he talked about the significance of the Oscars attention.
“I realize in sort of receiving this honor that it’s not all about me. For me, what makes it particularly magical is the idea that there might be young people of color who may doubt themselves and what they can do in the industry.”
His voice caught. “I’m getting emotional now. I was inspired by Whoopi Goldberg winning her Oscar. And sort of paying it forward to the next generation, the idea that people could be inspired, is crazy.”
Get Out, the writer/director acknowledged, has played a role in conversations about racism since its debut in theaters almost a year ago.
“People need to have help talking about these things,” he says. “Get Out is a piece of entertainment, but it’s also a cry for justice.”
And let’s not forget the baby’s big day.
“Beau will also be paying it forward to other younger babies who think they can’t do it,” he laughs.