Jada Pinkett Smith debates boycotting the Oscars over only white actors being nominated

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Jada Pinkett-Smith Debates Boycotting the Oscars Due To Lack of Diversity in Nominations
Jada Pinkett-Smith Debates Boycotting the Oscars Due To Lack of Diversity in Nominations


Will Jada Pinkett Smith boycott the Oscars?

For the second year in a row, the Academy has exclusively nominated white actors for the show's top honors, thus snubbing Will Smith (Concussion), Samuel L. Jackson (The Hateful Eight) and Idris Elba (Beasts of No Nation), among others.

PHOTOS: The Smith family



On Saturday, the 44-year-old actress called out the award show.

WATCH: Sam Smith and More Stars React to 2016 Oscar Nominations

"At the Oscars, people of color are always welcomed to give out awards, even entertain, but we are rarely recognized for our artistic accomplishments," Pinkett Smith wrote on Facebook and Twitter. "Should people of color refrain from participating all together?"

"People can only treat us in the way in which we allow," the Magic Mike XXL star added. "With much respect in the midst of deep disappointment, J."

At the Oscars...people of color are always welcomed to give out awards...even entertain, but we are rarely recognized...

Posted by Jada Pinkett Smith on Saturday, January 16, 2016


ET has reached out to Pinkett Smith's rep.

MORE: Take a Look Behind-the-Scenes of the 2016 Oscar Nominations

There was immediate backlash on Twitter after the Oscar nominees were announced on Thursday, with objectors using the hashtag #OscarsSoWhite to point out that the only nomination for the critically acclaimed Straight Outta Compton went to the two white screenwriters, while Creed, a movie directed by a black man and starring a black man, was only recognized for Sylvester Stallone's performance.

Academy President Cheryl Boone Isaacs told ET that the lack of diversity in this year's nominations is "disappointing."

"I hope this isn't discouraging for anybody, and for filmmakers in particular," she said at the nominations announcement. "You just keep moving along...We're going to keep pushing it."

Hear Boone Isaacs' full response to the controversy in the video below:

President Calls Lack of Diversity in 2016 Oscar Nominations 'Disappointing'
President Calls Lack of Diversity in 2016 Oscar Nominations 'Disappointing'

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