Will Smith Plans To Boycott 2017 Oscars, Regardless Of Nominations

Will Smith has hinted that he and wife Jada Pinkett Smith will boycott the 2017 Oscars after taking a stand at last year’s ceremony against the lack of diversity.

WILL SMITH TO BOYCOTT 2017 OSCARS

The 2016 Oscars heralded an outcry from many actors who felt the Academy was disproportionately white – in members and in Oscar nominations. The hashtag #OscarsSoWhite was trending for weeks. “You know what, there was a time in my life when box office was everything,” the 48-year-old actor said. “You know, if you didn’t get nominated you were under the bed for three weeks and all of that. It’s always fun to be invited to the party, but that’s all it can be.”

Smith has expressed gratitude toward the Academy for responding so quickly to last year’s protests, as the board claimed they aimed to double its female and minority member numbers by 2020. “I was very pleased at how quickly and aggressively the Academy responded,” Smith said. “But I want to be very clear about the spirit of what I’m saying. This is far beyond me. This has nothing to do with me, this has nothing to do with awards. Awards, that’s a really frivolous reason for me to put my hand up and make a statement. For me, this is much more about the idea of diversity and inclusion.”

Luther star Idris Elba also has claimed that a “change is coming.” He said, “the discussion that’s going on about the Oscars is fantastic. A change is coming, definitely. I do believe it, otherwise I wouldn’t be here. And I think everyone feels it, it’s a big subject and there is more work to do.”