American actor, Will Smith, on Thursday revealed that he will be following in the footstep of his wife, Jada Pinkett, by boycotting the Oscars.
Asked by ABC’s Robin Roberts on Good Morning America if he would be attending the show, the 47-year-old bluntly said, “No”
“My wife’s not going. It would be awkward to show up with Charlize (Theron). We’ve discussed it and we’re part of this community, but at this current time, we’re uncomfortable to stand there and say, ‘This is OK.'”
Smith who was out of town when his spouse shared a video online calling out Oscars for their lack of diversity and imploring people to boycott the awards show said he was blown away by the initiative.
“I was knocked over. I was happy to be married to that woman and I appreciated the push. There’s a position that we hold in this community and, if we’re not a part of the solution, we’re a part of the problem.”
The Concussion star also added that the Academy Award is not showing the true beauty of Americans.
“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.”
While some critics claim Will and his wife are only upset because he did not receive a nomination, the actor asserts that Jada would have made the video regardless.
“Had I been nominated and no other people of colour were, she would have made the video anyway,” he said.
Smith also noted that their stance is not a hidden agenda to garner more attention.
“This is so deeply not about me. This is about children that are going to sit down and they’re going to watch this show and they’re not going to see themselves represented.”
Other actors who have questioned the lack of diversity in the Oscars nomination list include George Clooney, David Oyelowo and Lupita Nyong’o.
