Will Smith joins wife in Oscars boycott, says he won’t attend

Will Smith on Thursday joined director Spike Lee and his wife Jada Pinkett-Smith in not attending the 2016 Oscar ceremony in February in protest over the absence of nominated actors of colour, while nominee Mark Ruffalo said he will attend the show after confusion over his stance.

For the second consecutive year, the Academy failed to nominate any minorities in the acting categories, and box-office hits led by black stars, such as “Straight Outta Compton“, were snubbed from major categories.

“I have never used the word boycott”, Lee said in an interview on Good Morning America.

QUINCYJones will only present at the Academy Awards if he can speak about “the lack of diversity” in the nominations.

One of the acting nominees joining the boycott would add a new chapter in the backlash that has roiled the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences.

Lupita Nyong’o, who won a best supporting actress Oscar for “12 Years A Slave” two years ago, said on Instagram: “I stand with my peers who are calling for change in expanding the stories that are told and recognition of the people who tell them”.

In late 2011, he withdrew from hosting the 84th Academy Awards after close friend Brett Ratner withdrew as show producer of the upcoming ceremony. As a critic, I would make the minimum 100 – a small number for a professional critic – but I know that’s not practical for many people.

As with many other commentators, Smith is pointing out that it seems like the trend is going the wrong way – “a regressive slid slide towards separatism” is how he puts it. And the information bears that out, with more nominations in previous years.

Following allegations by actors and commoners for the lack of diversity in its nominations, the board team of the Oscars are meeting to discuss and reach a conclusion over the issue.

Furious 7 actor Tyrese Gibson called for Oscars host Chris Rock to step down. Academy President Cheryl Boone Isaacs has pledged “dramatic changes” to diversify the academy’s membership.

“I’m weighing it, that’s where I’m at right now”, he said. It would certainly make a statement if he were to skip the Academy Awards all together.