After several celebrities like Jada Pinkett-Smith and Spike Lee called for a boycott of this year’s Oscars due to a lack of diversity and others like Tyrese and 50 Cent put pressure on Chris Rock, who’s hosting the awards to step back, Whoopi Goldberg and Russell Simmons are speaking out. Hit the jump for more.
(Video) Spike Lee On The Oscars: “I Never Called For A Boycott”
Spike Lee appeared on ‘Good Morning America’ to correct the media about all the reports that he was calling for a boycott of the Oscars. Earlier this week Spike Lee posted a statement saying he will not be attending this year’s Academy Awards after slamming the Academy for their lack of diversity. Spike Lee explained “Here’s the thing. I have never used the word boycott,” he continued, “All I said was my beautiful wife Tonya, we’re not coming. That’s it, then I gave the reasons, so I never used the word boycott.” Read more below.
(Video) Snoop Dogg Goes Off On The Academy: “F**k You…I’m Not Watching The Oscars”
Well, it looks like Snoop Dogg will be joining Spike Lee and Jada Pinkett Smith in boycotting this year’s Oscars. The Academy has been under fire since releasing the list of nominees last week, which proved once again that Hollywood is not in support of black actors or films after snubbing some of this year’s greatest films like Creed and Straight Outta Compton. In an Instagram video posted Monday night, Snoop Dogg explained he will not be tuning into the Oscars this year because quite simply, “ain’t no n*ggas nominated.” He went on to further explain his thoughts about the Oscars adding, “All these great movies and all this great sh*t ya’ll keep stealing from us. F*ck you.” Check out the full clip below.
Motion Picture Academy President Cheryl Boone Isaacs Responds To Oscars’ Diversity Criticism
After the nominees for the 2016 Academy Awards were announced last week, many were shocked and saddened to see that almost no diversity was to be found in the nominations, and huge films like Straight Outta Compton, Concussion and more were completely left out. Following calls for a boycott of the Oscars from the likes of Jada Pinkett-Smith, Spike Lee and more, The President of the Motion Picture Academy (above) has issued a positive (and hopefully true) response. “I would like to acknowledge the wonderful work of this year’s nominees,” Cheryl Boone Isaacs began. “While we celebrate their extraordinary achievements, I am both heartbroken and frustrated about the lack of inclusion…” Hit the gallery for the full statement. Do you think this will bring on the change that needs to happen?
(Video) Spike Lee & Jada Pinkett Smith Tells The Academy: “We’re Not Begging For Your Acknowledgment Anymore”
Since the reveal of this year’s Oscar nominations, critics of the 88th Annual Awards show have slammed the Academy for their lack of diversity. Actors and fans alike, have spoken out to express their views and question why so many black films in particular have been tossed aside. Actress Jada Pinkett Smith has been one of the more vocal critics and s he expressed her thoughts on the matter in a statement on Facebook over the weekend. She wrote,
At the Oscars…people of color are always welcomed to give out awards…even entertain, but we are rarely recognized for our artistic accomplishments. Should people of color refrain from participating all together? People can only treat us in the way in which we allow.
Following her statement, Pinkett-Smith shared an emotional video expressing her thoughts further and announcing she will not be attending this years Awards. Check out more below.
(Video) DAMN! Kid Rock Has A Special Message For Confederate Flag Protestors!
Since South Carolina won the battle to bring down the Confederate flag on all government property, the rest of the country is set on making sure that no one glorifies the flag in public. In Detroit, Confederate flag protestors called for punk rocker Kid Rock to denounce the flag once and for all and keep it out of his future shows. Once he caught wind of the situation, Rock issued an official statement on his stance on the controversy. Find out what he had to say after the jump!
