Filmmaker Spike Lee wasn’t the only prominent African American in show business announcing his intent to boycott this year’s Academy Awards due to its lack of diversity amongst nominees. Actress Jada Pinkett Smith took to Facebook in a video (which can be viewed after the jump) to not only inform fans she will not be attending the February 28th ceremony, but to also encourage other actors of color to follow suit as the award show, for the second time in a row, has failed to acknowledge their cinematic achievements.
Jada’s call for boycott:
Janet’s Response (must see):
Janet Hubert can take a seat. Her response is barely about what jada is saying and more about fulfilling her personal vendetta against Will Smith. She really sat around and thought about how she could turn this around to being about her personal issues with Will and that only suggests that what she has against him is psychological and obsessive. As she states that there are more important issues in the world, I mean, it’s true but what is equally or even more important to these black actors and actresses is their own careers which is their means of living.
I personally feel Janet was telling it like it is. For Jada to only speak out on this issue the year she expected her husband to be nominated is very self absorbed and shows a sense of entitlement. It’s as if they have ruled out the possibility that his acting was not good enough. I’ve only seen the ads/trailer and his accent is forced and inconsistent.
Also if Will already had an Oscar she would not be protesting this year’s lack of diversity. She would simply move forward hoping for another trophy down the line. But now she’s realizing that it’s just not in the cards for Will since Concussion was his career best and didn’t even garner a nomination.
Biitch shut up. Just stfu
I actually don’t know her…… well I do but I don’t wanna know this version of her. It’s quite annoying for her to be nailing Will Smith and now his family to the cross due to whatever happened in the early 90’s. She told no lies but who are we to say him and Jada are selfish just because they didn’t say anything about those injustice murders that happened to those young black men. Every black person felt for them all across the road and there is alot of celebrities that were silent too. SMH..
Soul Train Awards, BET Awards, NASCP Awards! Get my point? Jada’s boycott is irrelevant! Black entertainment has their own awards shows and you still see them getting nominated at all other awards shows too!
*NAACP
We all know Jada is only pissed because Will wasnt nominated.. But she ain’t lying kiii tf yall crying over whites approval for. ????
Will’s performance was obviously excellent in “Concussion”, but his accent wasn’t convincing and believable enough. You could still tell that he was an American trying to force a Nigerian accent. He still looked cute, though.
I’m so sick and tired of these hypocrites; next time there are the NAACP image, BET or Soul Train awards on, they better fawking show up.
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Omarion won a Soul Train Award and never showed up.
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These people are only for “black power” when it suits them. What they want is not to fight prejudice in the industry, rather they want privilege and white acceptance.
Preach! TAke a look at Black award shows in the 90s, EVERYONE is there. Fast warded to now and they don’t show up. I BEEN saying this, yet they wonder why they can’t sell. I understand both sides. Eff the Oscars, they select the same actors and the same flop movies every year and by the turn of the month, they are forgotten until next year with the “new” BS films. We have a #1 movie that took out Star Wars in the #1 spot was an Ice Cube and Kevin Heart film. For a whole month, films with Black front actors were #1. So the people (Not just Blacks, but EVERYONE) is speaking and it’s with there dollars. Because that Steve Jobs film flopped, so many films that stared White actors flopped this year.
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In short, DON’T tune into the Oscars or Grammys. At the END of the day, they’re Tv shows that need ratings. That’s why they slide in films like Mad Max to gain the youth and todays performers at the grammys, yet send them home awrdless.
It’s so sad that my people are still crying out for massas approval and acceptance in 2016. My life will go on whether we are nominated for oscars or not. Next subject.
She’s right though,Will didn’t deserve a nom. Will and Jada are mad because they felt he deserved one for a movie that tanked and just wasn’t all that great.
I know it’s hard for people who frequent this site to take the blinders off quick enough to see,but being more famous doesn’t make you right.
Everything she said was on point.The Smith’s have been really quiet on a lot of social issues but somehow once he doesn’t get a nom,it’s time to be activist? As Janet stated,why should these actors risk their careers for your temper tantrum?
We have our own awards,our people just degrade and make fun of them.I remember growing up,people had respect for all of the various black award shows,I don’t know when it became cool to clown on them.
I do think some black actors deserved a nod,but not enough to make a problem out of nothing. There were also other ethnic groups denied a nomination and they aren’t calling for a boycott.
Money/success over a trophy any day. Our shows and films are doing GREAT after they told us that the money just isn’t there. Same with music. I don’t watch these award shows, but I tell you what, if you don’t show up for a Black award show, you can kiss my black @ss. I never tune into the Oscars anyway, too boring.
You never tune into the Oscars because you’re too busy relieving yourself to gay internet p*** like all the other socially awkward homo losers in the world.
It’s so funny. Jada is only saying this because her husband wasn’t nominated… Has nothing to do with anything else.
Im not taking sides, but she read them for filth!
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They both have valid points… But I never pulled from what Jada was saying as to go so far and “Boycott” The Academy, Like she kept saying over and over in her video… “Let the Academy do them… Im just asking a question”.
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However points from the other video show how hypocritical Jada sounded… So I dont know who to side with, but chawl…. My people are so messy LMAOOO
I really don’t care for the Oscars or Grammys. Like honestly everyone doesn’t need a trophy to prove a point. There are tons of great music and films that were either unappreciated or simply overlooked for what ever reason by Blacks but guess what? Those projects proved to have longevity which many that received such high acclaim do not reach. So IDC for white acceptance, I don’t know why our black actors and actresses make up their own black Oscars. It shouldn’t be a issue or big deal, put ya money together and make it happen. Like f*** em and let’s do our own s***. But like many of ya stated like an (ex. Bey and Riri ) could win a BET award, Soul Train, and or NAACP award and not show up but will be first in headlines/ red carpet front row seats at the Grammy’s or Oscar or any other white show smh. But will caught in their feeling when things don’t go accordingly for them. Like how Nicki was upset at Taylor and Miley over that bs MTV award like com on that was foolish. Long as you and your family are eating, you still have a career, life is good who cares. Cause apparently they (sum whites) never did as we still having this conversations since the 60s let’s move on and make our own Oscars instead.
I loved Janet on Fresh Prince of Bel Air but she really needs to act her age now !. I felt and understand her points but cringe knowing she’s still holding on to a old ass grudge on Will like sister let it go. That mentality of crabs in the barrel, we need positivity of a solution not negativity. State your opinion without being bias a bit.
The think this conversation is worth having regardless of which side you’re on tbh there’s no need to call Jada bitter or Janet crazy, they both had good valid points. However I don’t believe Jada was just speaking out because Will wasn’t nominated. I believe it was Black Girls Rock where she kinda touched on the same matter, and you could tell from the passion in her voice that it is something she truly feels.
Janet Hubert made a strong argument, people are dying, people are starving, people are struggling to pay bills and ending up homeless, but … I don’t see it necessary for anyone to attack someone else for fighting a fight they deem important. If someone cried out for help because they’ve been shot in the arm, then another person does the same that’s been shot in the head – yes, it is easy to deduce that the 2nd person may be in a more critical condition! Still, are both individuals not in pain? If every challenged faced in life was stopped midway because it was compared to something greater – strides would’ve never been made and change would’ve never taken place or be seen in any arena of life. Obstacles are still obstacles, no matter how you prioritize them! It’s silly for some folks to tell people to turn a blind eye to things, that they themselves, see as lessor issues. Why would someone need to back down from speaking out against racism, sexism or gay bashing because people are dying from Cancer, A*** and other deadly diseases. I don’t understand how one negates the other.
this lame b**ch just tripping ..I mean she has a vendetta against Will and his family.Jada has a very VALID point and granted she might have said it with the wrong motive but she has a point.let this bitter old h** deal I mean!!! Don’t jeopardize our dignity because of interracial feud.
People of colour being represented in film/ Tv is a topic that needs addressing, and we should see our culture acurently shown on our TV and cinema screens. However, this whole #oscarsowhite is a rich people/ upper class problem.
There are people out her dying because of their race, police officers killing kids and getting away with it yet I’m meant to stand behind Jada and Spike Lee in this fight against old white people giving us statues for our talent. Get out of here!
Blame the film industry for not giving great roles to black people, not the Academy. There was literally no better roles played by black actors this year than any of the nominees. The nominations are almost perfect this year.
ps: Go Fury Road! 🙂
The Academy Awards do not grant oscars for popular movies or movies that sold well. I agree that there should be an award show for the classically trained actor like Cicely Tyson, Denzel Washington, Meryl Streep, etc. and the Academy Awards fit that bill. Straight Outta Compton was not an oscar-worthy picture even though I saw it on opening night and loved every minute. Still, the acting, directing, sound, visual, etc. was not oscar-worthy. I do believe while Chiraq might not have been an oscar-worthy movie, the lead actress deserved a break-out best actress nomination. And comedies rarely receive nominations.
Wendy!!!!!!!! Now this is some HOT TOPIC!!!
The fact of the matter is even if Will wasn’t nominated why was Straight Outta Compton for best picture? Why wasn’t any of the elite categories a person of color. So even if Will still wasn’t nominated, as Janet even said where was Edris or someone else. It is an issue. Just recently have black sitcoms made a return to major networks like Blackish and Empire. Damn shame.
Why is nobody stating the obvious? This isn’t a color issue, is a performance issue.
I have seen almost all of the Oscar nominated films this year, and I stand by the actors and actresses nominated. To be fair, the people nominated all did terrific jobs with each of their given roles. I do not think this is race issue, I think it is a talent issue. Now, I’m not saying that persons of color are not talented, do not misinterpret my words, but I am saying that an award show nominates quality performances, and quite frankly, the best of the best. I keep seeing names being thrown into the mix, such as Will Smith’s performance in Concussion, and do not understand why we are making this a race issue, and not focusing on other issues out there. Yes, the glitz and the glam of Hollywood are intoxicating, and the Oscars are the cherry on top of all the glitz…but aside from the people who only watch the red carpet to see who’s wearing who, and the film nerds who watch the show and pine for their favorites to win…nobody really cares. I am admittedly a film nerd, and I will watch the show and pine for my favorite to win, but I am also a person who cares to see a difference made in the world. Boycotting the Oscars is not helping anything. Jada Smith should be using her B list celebrity status to boycott something else more meaningful, something that will actually make a difference….because she looks like an idiot.
Janet Hubert, aka Aunt Viv from Fresh Price, stated a valid and poignant message: “People are dying. Our boys are being shot left and right. People are starving. People are trying to pay bills.”
Couldn’t agree more Aunt Viv…I say we boycott Jada Smith and her less than stellar career track, because let’s be honest, an Oscar wont coming her way anytime soon, and it won’t be because of the boycott…it will be because she can’t act for s*** and the only reason she is still relevant is because her husband is Will Smith.
Aunt Viv, have a seat. This is more about your dislike for Will and you saw this as an opportunity to take shots at him via his wife. “Some of us have mortgages to pay” welcome back to the working middle class bxtch.
Wow she has a good point tho