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Spike Lee Boycotts The Oscars Due To Lack Of Diversity

Spike Lee is refusing to attend this year’s Academy Awards because, for the second year in a row, all the acting nominees are white.

The 58-year-old filmmaker is rightly appalled at the lack of diversity amongst this year’s nominations… and the fact that this is the second year in a row has proved just too much for Spike Lee to take.

“Mean No Disrespect To My Friends, Host Chris Rock and Producer Reggie Hudlin, President Isaacs And The Academy,“ said Spike Lee via Instagram. "But, How Is It Possible For The 2nd Consecutive Year All 20 Contenders Under The Actor Category Are White?”

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“And Let’s Not Even Get Into The Other Branches,” he added. “40 White Actors In 2 Years And No Flava At All. We Can’t Act?! WTF!!”

Of course, the acting category isn’t the only Oscars category which seems to be have been whitewashed, with only white filmmakers up for the Best Director gong.

“It’s No Coincidence I’m Writing This As We Celebrate The 30th Anniversary Of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr’s Birthday,” Lee continued. “Dr. King Said ‘There Comes A Time When One Must Take A Position That Is Neither Safe, Nor Politic, Nor Popular But He Must Take It Because Conscience Tells Him It’s Right’.”

“For Too Many Years When The Oscars Nominations Are Revealed, My Office Phone Rings Off The Hook With The Media Asking Me My Opinion About The Lack Of African-Americans And This Year Was No Different. For Once, (Maybe) I Would Like The Media To Ask All The White Nominees And Studio Heads How They Feel About Another All White Ballot. If Someone Has Addressed This And I Missed It Then I Stand Mistaken.”

And Spike Lee isn’t the only one who’s noticed…

Jada Pinkett Smith has already seemingly called for a boycott against the Oscars when she took to Twitter to voice her concerns.

“At the Oscars…people of color are always welcomed to give out awards…even entertain,” she said. “But we are rarely recognized for our artistic accomplishments. Should people of color refrain from participating all together?”

But what’s the real problem behind the Oscars whitewash?

Spike Lee thinks it’s all to do with the studio executives… and lays out what he believes is the reason we don’t see as many black filmmakers.

“As I See It, The Academy Awards Is Not Where The ‘Real’ Battle Is,” he explained. “It’s In The Executive Office Of The Hollywood Studios And TV And Cable Networks.”

“This Is Where The Gate Keepers Decide What Gets Made And What Gets Jettisoned To ‘Turnaround’ Or Scrap Heap. This Is What’s Important. The Gate Keepers. Those With ‘The Green Light’ Vote. As The Great Actor Leslie Odom Jr. Sings And Dances In The Game Changing Broadway Musical HAMILTON, ‘I WANNA BE IN THE ROOM WHERE IT HAPPENS’. People, The Truth Is We Ain’t In Those Rooms And Until Minorities Are, The Oscar Nominees Will Remain Lilly White.”

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Picture Credit: WENN.