Will Smith broke his silence this morning about the controversy surrounding his wife’s proposed Oscar boycott, saying that he also won’t be attending this year’s ceremony because he believes that Hollywood is ‘going in the wrong direction’ when it comes to diversity.
The 47-year-old star of Concussion sat down with ABC’s Robin Roberts on Good Morning America to share his thoughts on this year’s overwhelmingly white Academy Award nominations, and his wife Jada Pinkett Smith’s videotaped call to action.
‘I think that diversity is the American superpower. That's why we're great,’ he told Roberts in the exclusive interview.
‘So many different people from so many different places adding their ideas, their inspirations, their influences to this beautiful American gumbo. … so when I look at the series of nominations of the Academy, it is not reflecting that beauty.’
‘So many different people from so many different places adding their ideas, their inspirations, their influences to this beautiful American gumbo. … so when I look at the series of nominations of the Academy, it is not reflecting that beauty.’
A growing number of Hollywood heavyweights, including Spike Lee, Michael Moore and George Clooney, have publicly criticized the Academy for failing to nominate people of color in any of the major acting categories this year.
In an interview with Variety this week, Clooney, himself a two-time Oscar winner, said Hollywood has been moving in the wrong direction on diversity over the past decade.
On Thursday, Smith seemed to echo that sentiment, recalling his personal experiences as an Oscar nominee in 2001, for the film Ali, and in 2006 for his role in The Pursuit of Happyness.
‘I've been nominated twice for Academy Awards, and I’ve never lost to a white person,’ he said with a laugh. ‘The first time I lost to Denzel [Washington], and the second time I lost to Forrest Whitaker.I see this list and series of nominations to come out, and everyone is fantastic... but it feels like it's going in the wrong direction,' he added.
‘There was a regressive slide towards separatism, towards racial and religious disharmony, and that's not the Hollywood that I want to leave behind.'
dailymail.co.uk.
Na wah,even 'white' voices have joined?Hmmmm the Oscar organisers have work to do ooooooooo.
Wetin concern me sef?why i carry this matter for head like gala?Look at our Nollywood,do they even have an Oscar version in Nigeria?Mscheeew!
Ok
ReplyDeleteYes we have oscar version in Nigeria.
DeleteAll dose stand up comedy shows no sweet pass oscar award? Award no dey am abi?Abegi leave thrash 4 kolekole.
End time oscar award
Solidarity. I like.
ReplyDeleteNa dem sabi
ReplyDeleteOrdinary Nigerian headless..U see the outcome
ReplyDeleteStella we have our own oscars.
ReplyDeleteIts known as African magic viewers choice awards(AMVCA)
Its been going on strong 3 or is it 4 yrs? And counting..
And like old wine, it gets better by the year.
Even though the award is for africa, nollywood takes great pride in it.
They'll get there..
Nwayo nwayo ka e ji alacha ofe di oku.
Kikikikikik
DeleteIf Nollywood don't have African version of Oscar so what do you call AMAA?
ReplyDeleteAre they still in this?
ReplyDeleteNot interested again
Stella we do o. AMA ( AFRICA MOVIE AWARD).
ReplyDeletePls sorry to deviate, I've been seriously searching for naijagistlive on instagram for like two weeks now, I've been told of so many but whenever I search OYO is my case. Pls help a sister no be me like gossip pass o but naijahlgistlive been killing it. If u guys know d real n present page kindly comment under mine thanks..Stella biko post
ReplyDeleteThey have a website.. Go there.. Just type their Name and it will come up
DeleteLmaooo. Nigerian Oscar ko,Nigerian hunter ni
ReplyDeleteAyu ah! No matter what they said or think, racism won't change.
ReplyDeleteStella our own oscar is Amaa na. Abi you don forget?
*yawns*
ReplyDeleteYour comment will be visible after approval.
Why the hiss?
ReplyDeleteMust we copy everything oyinbo man does?
*yawns*
ReplyDeleteYour comment will be visible after approval.
End time awards
ReplyDeleteMtcheww
ReplyDeleteBlack people have to step their damn game up and stop complaining
ReplyDeleteLook at how African Americans are treated like goat and slaughtered by police and racists
Why can't the Smith's talk about that
Linda have you forgot aluu 4
Tell them to pass a law against domestic abuse and jungle justice
We can change the world.
Annon see ure life o. Copy and paste. Blog waka waka.
DeleteLinda ko Ikeji ni.
DeleteAnnon see ure life o. Copy and paste. Blog waka waka.
DeleteSome people are reasonable.
ReplyDeleteI knew the unbiased "whites" will lend their voice to this course sooner or later.
I love that film CONCUSSION
ReplyDeleteVery interesting and full of inspiration
The main character their is mr SMITH(Dr. omaluoa) an igbo medical doctor; graduated from the university of Nigeria Nnsuka
Very brilliant in his line of course.
This man loves experiment to the extend that anytime they have an emergency of a death patient; without a full detail on the cause of the passing away of the patient ;he takes it as a point of duty to analized,experiments and as well as carry on reasearch on the deceased to actualize the main cause of his death.
Just go and watch the film, you will never regret it....yUMMY
I also thought that film will be nominated and Smith among the list of people for nomination.. He did well in that movie. Very very well.. He even tried with his accent even though he didn't really get it but he tried.. So yes he should be on that list
DeleteAnother person that should be on that list if Chiwetel Ejiofor for his role in the Martian.. He should have been nominated for best supporting actor..
Another movie is straight out of Compton...
Hi guys
ReplyDeleteI 4get to say that the movie is also EDUCATIVE
Have a splendid night rest all.
Me love will smith long time
ReplyDeleteMy man crush any time any day lol
ReplyDeleteTell 'em, Will tell 'em
Hi guys
ReplyDeleteI 4get to say that the movie is also EDUCATIVE
Have a splendid night rest all.