Though Spike Lee was given an honorary Academy Award at the Governors Awards in November, the “Chi-Raq” director said Monday he will not attend the Oscars next month because of the lack of diversity among nominees.
“We cannot support it and (I) mean no disrespect to my friends, host Chris Rock and producer Reggie Hudlin, president (Cheryl Boone) Isaacs and the Academy,” Lee posted on Instagram. “But, how is it possible for the second consecutive year all 20 contenders under the acting category are white? And let’s not even get into the other branches. Forty white actors in two years and no flava at all. We can’t act?! WTF!!”
The hashtag #OscarsSoWhite trended on social media last week after it was announced that all 20 contenders for acting awards are white. Actress Jada Pinkett Smith also announced Monday she will boycott the Oscars, which are scheduled to air at 6 p.m. Feb. 28 on ABC.
“Chi-Raq,” a satirical look at South Side gun violence, was released in some theaters last month and earned no Oscar nominations, though some of the movie’s songs made it on the shortlist. Lee is set to be in Chicago on Thursday to promote the movie, which is slated to be released Feb. 4 on Amazon Prime.
