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Jada Pinkett Smith & Spike Lee Boycott The Oscars Over Lack Of Diversity (Video)



Jada Pinkett Smith hinted at an Academy Awards Boycott this weekend after she posted the following message on her Facebook page:

Her husband, Will Smith, was an Oscar nominee contender for his role in Concussion but he didn't make the final cut of landing a nomination. 

 Jada announced today in a video that she plans on sitting out the award show which will broadcast on ABC on Feb. 28 and said she was disappointed by the lack of diversity in Oscar nominations.

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The 44-year-old actress also had a message for this year's host, Chris Rock:
"Chris, I will not be at the Academy Awards and I won't be watching but I can't think of a better man to do the job at hand this year then you my friend," she said. "Good luck."

Spike Lee also announced he's not supporting the Academy Awards. He uploaded a picture of Martin Luther King Jr. on his Instagram page and captioned the photo:

"#OscarsSoWhite... Again.

I Would Like To Thank President Cheryl Boone Isaacs And The Board Of Governors Of The Academy Of Motion Pictures Arts And Sciences For Awarding Me an Honorary Oscar This Past November. I Am Most Appreciative. However My Wife, Mrs. Tonya Lewis Lee And I Will Not Be Attending The Oscar Ceremony This Coming February. 


We Cannot Support It And Mean No Disrespect To My Friends, Host Chris Rock and Producer Reggie Hudlin, President Isaacs And The Academy. But, How Is It Possible For The 2nd Consecutive Year All 20 Contenders Under The Actor Category Are White? And Let's Not Even Get Into The Other Branches. 40 White Actors In 2 Years And No Flava At All. We Can't Act?! WTF!!


It's No Coincidence I'm Writing This As We Celebrate The 30th Anniversary Of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr's Birthday. Dr. King Said "There Comes A Time When One Must Take A Position That Is Neither Safe, Nor Politic, Nor Popular But He Must Take It Because Conscience Tells Him It's Right". 


For Too Many Years When The Oscars Nominations Are Revealed, My Office Phone Rings Off The Hook With The Media Asking Me My Opinion About The Lack Of African-Americans And This Year Was No Different. For Once, (Maybe) I Would Like The Media To Ask All The White Nominees And Studio Heads How They Feel About Another All White Ballot. If Someone Has Addressed This And I Missed It Then I Stand Mistaken.

As I See It, The Academy Awards Is Not Where The "Real" Battle Is. It's In The Executive Office Of The Hollywood Studios And TV And Cable Networks. This Is Where The Gate Keepers Decide What Gets Made And What Gets Jettisoned To "Turnaround" Or Scrap Heap. This Is What's Important. The Gate Keepers. Those With "The Green Light" Vote. 


As The Great Actor Leslie Odom Jr. Sings And Dances In The Game Changing Broadway Musical HAMILTON, "I WANNA BE IN THE ROOM WHERE IT HAPPENS". People, The Truth Is We Ain't In Those Rooms And Until Minorities Are, The Oscar Nominees Will Remain Lilly White. (Cont'd)"



This is the second year in a row that the Academy Awards have been blasted for showing a lack of diversity. 


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