Academy Awards: Will Smith pleased over Oscars voting changes

Will Smith attends the “Concussion” premiere at the Callao cinema on January 27, 2016 in Madrid, Spain. The third Puerto Rican victor in Oscar history, Benicio Del Toro, is scheduled to take the stage as well as 9-year-old “Room” breakout star Jacob Tremblay and first-time Oscar nominee Lady Gaga.

Will kept his look casual in a black of black skinny jeans and a fitted polo shirt with teal stitch detailing on the collar and a blue band around the waist for the photocall earlier in the day.

Will was inspired by the forensic pathologist’s account of fighting against the National Football League to suppress his research about brain damage suffered by players. “This has nothing to do with me”, Smith told the BBC. “For me this is much more about the idea of diversity and inclusion”.

The Hollywood icon spoke to Good Morning Britain ahead of his latest role in sports drama Concussion – which he hasn’t received an Oscar nomination for.

“I think that it’s not us and them-it’s we”, Smith said.

The Hollywood actor has made a decision to follow in his wife Jada Pinkett Smith‘s footsteps by boycotting this year’s ceremony, and he insists there is a social decay in the country which has seeped through to the Academy Awards. Tyrese Gibson and 50 Cent both called on Chris Rock to quit his hosting duties in protest, and Mark Ruffalo, nominated for best supporting actor for his role in “Spotlight”, said he’s “weighing” whether to attend.

We now know that lineup will include appearances by Kevin Hart and Pharrell Williams, as well as a performance by The Weeknd (who is nominated in the Best Original Song category for his contribution to the Fifty Shades soundtrack).

Give me a sign!