A micro-slit scattering element based backlight, a multiview display, and a method of backlight operation include reflective micro-slit scattering elements configured to provide emitted light having a predetermined light exclusion zone. The micro-slit scattering element based backlight includes a light guide configured to guide light and a plurality of the reflective micro-slit scattering elements having sloped reflective sidewalls configured to reflectively scatter out the guided light as the emitted light. The sloped reflective sidewalls of the reflective micro-slit scattering elements are configured to provide the predetermined light exclusion zone of the emitted light. The multiview display includes the reflective micro-slit scattering elements arranged as an array of micro-slit multibeam elements. The multiview display also includes an array of light valves to modulate the directional light beams to provide the multiview image, except within the predetermined light exclusion zone.