Spike Lee is boycotting the ceremony. Jada Pinkett Smith is also boycotting the ceremony (which drew quite the reaction from 'Aunt Viv'), and now more celebrities are speaking out about #OscarsSoWhite.
Aunt Viv's opinions aside, Jada Pinkett Smith's tweets were the ones that really brought attention to the glaring issue.
At the Oscars...people of color are always welcomed to give out awards...even entertain, (pt. 1)
— Jada Pinkett Smith (@jadapsmith) January 16, 2016
But we are rarely recognized for our artistic accomplishments. Should people of color refrain from participating all together? (pt 2)
— Jada Pinkett Smith (@jadapsmith) January 16, 2016
People can only treat us in the way in which we allow. With much respect in the midst of deep disappointment. J (pt 3)
— Jada Pinkett Smith (@jadapsmith) January 16, 2016
Chris Rock, who's presenting the awards themselves on February 28th, tweeted the below last week...
The #Oscars. The White BET Awards. https://t.co/8qjLR0uysI
— Chris Rock (@chrisrock) January 15, 2016
Don Cheadle responded...
@chrisrock Yo, Chris. Come check me out at #TheOscars this year. They got me parking cars on G level.
— Don Cheadle (@IamDonCheadle) January 17, 2016
Two-time Oscar winner George Clooney penned an open letter via Variety, saying: "If you think back 10 years ago, the Academy was doing a better job. Think about how many more African Americans were nominated. I would also make the argument, I don’t think it’s a problem of who you’re picking as much as it is: How many options are available to minorities in film, particularly in quality films? I think we have a lot of points we need to come to terms with … I think that African Americans have a real fair point that the industry isn’t representing them well enough. I think that’s absolutely true... There should be 20 or 30 or 40 films of the quality that people would consider for the Oscars. By the way, we’re talking about African Americans. For Hispanics, it’s even worse. We need to get better at this. We used to be better at it.”
Oscar winner Lupita Nyong'o has just taken to her Instagram to express her sadness at the "lack of inclusion". The 32-year-old captioned her message with a quote: "Not everything that is faced can be changed. But nothing can be changed until it is faced." - James Baldwin #manystoriesmanyvoices"
That's only the tip of the proverbial. The response at large has resulted in a rare statement from the Academy...
A statement from Academy President Cheryl Boone Isaacs pic.twitter.com/Nqhgc7sbqG
— The Academy (@TheAcademy) January 19, 2016
Pinkett Smith appreciates the effort...
I would like to express my gratitude to the Academy, specifically Cheryl Boone Isaacs, (pt 1)
— Jada Pinkett Smith (@jadapsmith) January 20, 2016
for such a quick response in regard to the issue at hand. I look forward to the future. (pt 2)
— Jada Pinkett Smith (@jadapsmith) January 20, 2016
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