Donald Trump has moaned about a film from South Korea winning best picture at the Oscars – despite having apparently not actually seen it.
The US President mocked blockbuster success Parasite by sarcastically telling a rally "I thought it was best foreign film!"
"Can we get, like, Gone With the Wind back, please?" he added, hailing a film set on a slave plantation to cheers at a the event in Colorado.
Neon, the North American distributor of Parasite, responded to the president.
"Understandable, he can't read," the company's official Twitter account said.
Critics accused the President of outright racism, especially given his pointed choice of film.
Actor and writer John Fugelsang tweeted: "He praised Gone With The Wind, film about how happy the slaves were during the wonderful – and tragically extinct – Confederacy during Black History Month. Trump's so racist."
Actor Marsha Warfield added: "Dude is straight up cray cray. And, a racist." Twitter user Timothy Burke added: "Trump complains that South Korean films are winning Oscars and that we need more like "Gone With The Wind," a movie that even in 1939 was recognized as being racist as hell."
Director Bong Joon-Ho's searing commentary on class struggle made history at the Academy Awards this month when it became the first foreign language film to win the top prize.
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On a memorable night, Parasite also earned Bong best director and won both best original screenplay and best international feature.
However, Mr Trump was not impressed and bemoaned the film's success during a
"How bad were the Academy Awards this year?" the president asked, prompting boos from the crowd.
"The winner is – a movie from South Korea! What the hell was that all about?
"We got enough problems with South Korea with trade. On top of that, they give him best movie of the year? Was it good? I don't know. Let's get Gone With The Wind. Can we get, like, Gone With the Wind back, please?
"Sunset Boulevard? So many great movies."
Mr Trump added: "Did this ever happen before?"
The president also aimed a barb at Brad Pitt, who mentioned Mr Trump's impeachment trial during his Oscars acceptance speech.
"And then you have Brad Pitt," Mr Trump said. "I was never a big fan of his. He got up, said a little wise guy thing. He's a little wise guy."
Parasite is one of the most acclaimed films of recent years.
Bong's satirical dark comedy veers wildly between different genres as it tells the story of an unscrupulous poor family's often hilarious attempts to embed themselves inside the home of a rich family.
It moves from comedy to horror before building up to a gruesome conclusion.
Parasite was a popular choice for best picture at the Oscars, winning ahead of Sam Mendes's well-fancied war epic 1917.
Bong addressed the issue of Western audiences being reluctant to watch foreign language films during his acceptance speech at the Golden Globes.
"Once you overcome the one-inch-tall barrier of subtitles, you will be introduced to so many more amazing films," he said after winning the best foreign film award.
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