Spike Lee, Jada Pinkett Smith Refuse to Attend the Oscars Over African-American Snub
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The director and the actress have announced their absence from the February 23 ceremony because they cannot support the lack of diversity in the nominations.

AceShowbiz - Spike Lee and Jada Pinkett Smith are seriously not attending the upcoming Oscars. The director penned an open letter on Instagram announcing his absence from the prestigious awards show due to lack of diversity in the acting nominees.

In celebration of Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.'s birthday, Lee explained why he's attempting to boycott this year's Academy Awards. In an Instagram post on Monday, January 18, he wrote, "We cannot support it and [I] mean no disrespect ... But, how is it possible for the second consecutive year all 20 contenders under the acting category are white? 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!!"

He continued, "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'. ... 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."

#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)

A photo posted by Spike Lee (@officialspikelee) on

Meanwhile, Pinkett Smith followed up her Saturday statement where she considered not attending the February 28 ceremony. Her husband Will Smith was considered as an Oscar contender for his role in "Concussion (2015)" but was not nominated at the end. In fact, many of the considered colored actors such as Michael B. Jordan and Benicio Del Toro did not make it either.

In a Facebook video uploaded on Monday, Pinkett Smith said, "Is it time that people of color recognize how much power, influence, that we have amassed, that we no longer need to ask to be invited anywhere? Maybe it's time that we recognize that if we love and respect and acknowledge ourselves in the way in which we are asking others to do, that that is the place of true power." She also bid host Chris Rock good luck, saying, "I can't think of a better man to do the job at hand this year than you my friend, and good luck."

Just hours after that, actress Janet Hubert who shared the screen with Smith on "The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air" released a 4-minute video on YouTube in response to Pinkett Smith's boycott. "First of all, Miss Thing, does your man not have a mouth of his own with which to speak?" she said, adding, "The second thing, girlfriend, there's a lot of s**t going on in the world that you all don't seem to recognize. People are dying. Our boys are being shot left and right. People are starving. People are trying to pay bills. And you're talking about some [expletive] actors and Oscars. It just ain't that deep."

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