Jada Pinkett Smith And Spike Lee Won't Attend Oscars

18 January 2016

Jada Pinkett Smith is boycotting this year's Oscars.

Jada Pinkett Smith

The actress had previously expressed her disappointment at the lack of diversity in the nominations for the 2016 Academy Awards, and admitted she was thinking about not attending the ceremony.

On Monday (18.01.16), Jada confirmed she had made the difficult decision to give the world-famous event a miss because she disagreed with the lack of non-white actors nominated.

In a video message posted on Facebook, Jada said: "Is it time that people of colour recognise how much power, influence, that we have amassed, that we no longer need to ask to be invited anywhere? Maybe it's time that we recognise that if we love and respect and acknowledge ourselves in the way in which we are asking others to do, that that is the place of true power.

"Begging for acknowledgement, or even asking, diminishes dignity and diminishes power -- and we are a dignified people, and we are powerful. Let's not forget it."

Adding she would also not be watching the awards, Jada added to this year's host Chris Rock: "Chris, I will not be at the Academy Awards and I won't be watching but I can't think of a better man to do the job at hand this year then you, my friend. Good luck."

Meanwhile, director Spike Lee has joined Jada in her boycott, revealing he and his wife Tonya Lewis Lee will not be present for the awards this year.

He wrote on Instagram: "OscarsSoWhite... Again. We cannot support it and mean no disrespect to my friends, host Chris Rock and producer Reggie Hudlin, president Isaacs and the Academy. But, how is it possible for the 2nd consecutive year all 20 contenders under the actor category are white?

"Dr. King said 'There comes a time when one must take a position that is neither safe, nor politic, nor popular but he must take it because conscience tells him it's right,' " he wrote. "For too many years when the Oscars nominations are revealed, my office phone rings off the hook with the media asking me my opinion about the lack of African-Americans and this year was no different."