‘Birdman’ Win, ‘American Sniper’ Loss Sparks Oscar Uproar on Social Media

Fans of the ‘American Sniper’ starring Bradley Cooper, criticized the Academy for awarding Birdman the Best Picture Oscar. (Photo: Studio)

The controversy also took on political overtones. Protesters were mostly conservative, pro-military types who were fanned by Fox News and Sean Hannity.

Protesters blamed everyone from President Obama to “liberal Hollywood” for what they saw as “American Sniper’s” snub.

“Real Americans had given the Oscar to American Sniper,” one irate supporter wrote on Twitter.

#AmericanSniper deserved the #Oscar ! #Oscars2015 #Oscars #oscartv2 pic.twitter.com/fg7UoYeXK6

— Jonas Christensen (@JonasChr88) February 23, 2015

AMERICAN Sniper snubbed by liberal hwood Predictable. #CluelessOscars

— Sean Hannity (@seanhannity) February 23, 2015

Ok….all I said was Jason Bateman didn't clap? Now all the Tea Baggers are coming out….I should have kept my fingers quiet.

— Chad Williams (@tool1934) February 23, 2015

Iñárritu became the second Mexican filmmaker in a row to win the Best Director category, following Alfonso Cuarón last year. He won for the George Clooney, Sandra Bullock sci-fi film “Gravity.”

“This is crazy, talking about that little prick called ego. Ego loves competition, because for someone to win, someone has to lose. But the paradox is that true arts, true individual expressions …. can’t be compared, can’t be labeled, can’t be defeated, because they exist,” the director said accepting the award.

“Our work will only be judged, as always, by time. I am very thankful, grateful, humbly honored by the Academy for this incredible recognition,” he added.

Birdman, which starred Michael Keaton, Edward Norton and Emma Stone, is about a washed-up movie star who gained fame playing a superhero called “Birdman.”

He tries to revive his career by directing a Broadway play. But he gets lost in an existential maze involving his dysfunctional relationship with his daughter, his own inner demons and a clash of egos.

Critics were also irked that Iñárritu dedicated the Best Picture Oscar to his fellow Mexicans, “the ones who live in Mexico.”

Hannity has been trying to make hay out of Hollywood celebrities who criticized “American Sniper” for weeks. He Tweeted his disappointment after “Birdman” won Best Picture.

“AMERICAN Sniper snubbed by liberal hwood Predictable. #CluelessOscars,’ he wrote on Twitter.

“American Sniper,” directed by Clint Eastwood, is about Navy Seal Chris Kyle, who became the deadliest U.S. sniper to serve in Iraq. Bradley Cooper starred in the film and delivered a power-packed performance.

Kyle was shot and killed at a shooting range by a former marine suffering from post traumatic stress syndrome. Kyle was attempting to help him when he inexplicable gunned him down.

The movie focuses on Kyle’s inner struggle between his actions in Iraq and his effort to leave the war behind and return to his family in the United States. He ultimately served four tours in Iraq.

Eastwood tried to defuse the controversy leading up to the ceremony by saying his movie was not made to win awards.

Jason Bateman also drew the ire of “American Sniper” fans for apparently not clapping when the movie was announced.

“American Sniper” was, however, one of the biggest winners at the box office.

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