Will Smith says he will not attend the Academy Awards next month, joining his wife, Jada Pinkett Smith, and others in protest against two straight years of all-white acting nominees.
Smith said Thursday on ABC's "Good Morning America" that he and Pinkett Smith have discussed it and feel "we're uncomfortable to stand there and say this is OK." He said even if he had been the only black man nominated he still wouldn't have attended.
He said he was concerned by the Academy’s nominations adding it didn’t reflect “this beautiful American gumbo” of diversity.
“For me, at its best, Hollywood represents and then creates the imagery for that beauty,” he said.
“But for my part, I think that I have to protect and fight for the ideals that make our country and make our Hollywood community great.”
Smith’s announcement came as Dustin Hoffman said he believes the lack of diversity is down to "subliminal racism".
Some thought Smith might be nominated for his performance in the football drama "Concussion," but he was not. Smith would likely have been a sought-after presenter at the Feb. 28 ceremony at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles.
He had been nominated twice before, for 2001's "Ali" and 2006's "The Pursuit of Happyness."
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