#OscarsSoWhite Controversy Leads to Celebrity Boycotting
Alejandro G. Inarritu is the only nominee in all five major categories to not be Caucasian, which has lead to the widespread hashtag #OscarsSoWhite, and has also lead to two prominent names in the industry declaring a boycott from the ceremony.
In a post by Spike Lee, he said that "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 conteders under the actor category are white?" The comments represent a widespread backlash from the cinematic community, as the nominations lists exclude films like Concussion, Straight Outta Compton, and Creed entirely.
Jada Pinkett Smith has also chimed in, confirming that she won't be attending the ceremony either, and nor will she watch it on TV. In her Facebook video, Smith insisted that "begging for acknowledgment or even asking diminishes dignity and diminishes power and we are a dignified people and we are powerful, let's not forget it."
President of the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences Cheryl Boones Isaacs even chimed in, stating that she was "disappointed" by the absence of black actors or actresses in the acting categories in the past two years.
Source: Cinemablend
