What is an 'inclusion rider'? This is what Frances McDormand was referring to in her Oscars speech

And we're really glad she brought it up

(Image credit: David Fisher/REX/Shutterstock)

And we're really glad she brought it up

From the editors of HelloGiggles

Words by Anna Gragert

If you're were left Googling 'inclusion rider definition' after this year's Oscars ceremony, you're certainly not alone.

Following Frances McDormand's Best Actress Win at the 2018 Oscars for her role in Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri, Twitter has been doing its best to figure out what the actress meant when she referred to an 'inclusion rider' in her speech.

In addition, the actress proclaimed: 'We all have stories to tell. Invite us into your offices and we'll tell you all about them.'

Following McDormand's powerful speech, which memorably had all the women on their feet and included, 'I have two words for you: inclusion rider' – we were asking, Inclusion writer? Inclusion write her? Inclusion rider?

According to Dr Phillip Atiba Goff, Franklin A. Thomas Professor in Policing Equity at John Jay University, the inclusion rider definition is: 'a clause in an actor's contract that requires the cast and crew be diverse in order to retain that actor.'

He added, 'That's kind of a brave thing to say on such a big stage.'

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Following McDormand's speech, host Jimmy Kimmel stated, 'I hope she wins an Emmy for that speech because that was unbelievable.' We agree, because along with many others, we were tilting our heads at 'inclusion rider.'

Considering it's such an important piece of contract knowledge, we're glad Frances McDormand brought it to light; the more people know about inclusion riders, the more they will (hopefully) be used in the name of inclusivity.

Comedian Whitney Cummings perhaps put it best when she tweeted, 'We should support this for a billion reasons, but if you can't find a reason to, here's one: it will make movies better.'

It. Will. Make. Movies. Better.

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