Jada Pinkett Smith's Oscars Boycott Announced; Spike Lee Joins Actress; Show Lacks Diversity?
It has been reported on USA Today that actress Jada Pinkett Smith announced on Monday through social media that she is not going to attend the Oscars this 2016 due to the lack of diversity in the recent lineup of the nominees. In addition, Spike Lee has also joined the boycott.
Smith, at first, contemplated and wrote on her Facebook Page that she is going to skip the 88th annual Academy Awards after it was announced that his husband, actor Will Smith, is not one of the acting bets nominated for the best actor nomination for his portrayal of Dr. Bennet Omalu in Concussion. She then posted a video on Facebook confirming her intent to boycott the said awards ceremony.
"Maybe it is time we pull back our resources and we put them back into our communities, into our programs, and we make programs for ourselves that acknowledge us in ways that we see fit, that are just as good as the so-called mainstream," she said on her video. She even said it is an ignoble thing for communities of color to beg for acknowledgment and that they should never stoop that level.
"We are a dignified people and we are powerful - let's not forget it," Pinkett Smith continued. "So let's let the Academy do them with all grace and love and let's do us differently."
In another story, Spike Lee did his part which he took to Instagram and announced that he, together with his wife, would not attend the show. Lee, just like Jada Pinkett Smith, questioned the Academy on the lack of diversity among the nominees for this year, although he gave praises and gratitude for the honorary Oscar he got last November.
"#OscarsSoWhite... Again," is the opening of Lee's post, in reference to the hashtag that has been trending. "We cannot support it and (I) mean no disrespect to my friends, host Chris Rock and producer Reggie Hudlin, president (Cheryl Boone) Isaacs and the Academy.
"But, how is it possible for the second consecutive year all 20 contenders under the acting category are white?," he added. "And let's not even get into the other branches. Forty white actors in two years and no flava at all. We can't act?! WTF!!"
Jada Pinkett Smith, 44, married Will Oscars-nominated Will Smith in 1997 and together they have two kids, Willow and Jade
