The academy has finally broken its silence after Jada Pinkett Smith and Spike Lee called out the Oscar Awards for its lack of recognition for Black actors this year and in the past. While Jada has decided to boycott the awards altogether this year (see her video below), Spike also confirmed he will not be in attendance. This seemed to be enough to get the academy’s attention as the President, Cheryl Boone Isaacs, promises change for the upcoming years.
I’d like to acknowledge the wonderful work of this year’s nominees. While we celebrate their extraordinary achievements, I am both heartbroken and frustrated about the lack of inclusion. This is a difficult but important conversation, and it’s time for big changes.
The Academy is taking dramatic steps to alter the makeup of our membership. In the coming days and weeks we will conduct a review of our membership recruitment in order to bring about much-needed diversity in our 2016 class and beyond.
Read her full statement here.
As for Chris Rock, who is hosting the show this year, he also made a joke about the lack of diversity.
