Will Smith Weighs In On #OscarsSoWhite Controversy

Actor Will Smith is standing by his wife, Jada Pinkett Smith, in boycotting the 2016 Oscars. Many believed Smith deserved a nomination for his performance in Concussion, in which he played real-life Nigerian pathologist Dr. Bennet Omalu who uncovers the truth about brain damage in football players. I admit he was excellent in the film, and was a little surprised he didn’t make the cut. Smith spoke with Good Morning America co-anchor Robin Roberts on Thursday and shared some of his views about Hollywood’s lack of diversity.

Smith said he and wife Jada “discussed” the boycott and both felt that although they are “part of this community,” they just felt “uncomfortable to stand there and say that this is OK.” And he gives props to Jada for speaking up (he was out of the country at the time). “She’s deeply passionate and when she is moved she has to go. I heard her words and I was knocked over. I was happy to be married to that woman… It was her call to action, for herself, and for me and for our family to be a part of the solution.”

He added that even if he had been nominated for an Oscar, but was the only African-American on the list, his wife “would have made the video anyway… We’d still be here having this conversation. This is so deeply not about me.”

Here are some more of Smith’s thoughtful observations:

So many different people from so many different places adding their ideas, their inspiration and their influences to this beautiful American gumbo. For me, at its best, Hollywood represents and then creates the imagery for that beauty. 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. So when I look at the series of nominations of the Academy, it’s not reflecting that beauty. Everyone is beautiful and deserving and is fantastic, but it feels like it’s going the wrong direction.

Smith has been nominated twice before for Oscars – for the 2001 Ali and 2006 The Pursuit of Happyness – and he lost to African-American actors, Denzel Washington (Training Day) and Forest Whitaker (The King of Scotland).

Director Spike Lee has also said he would not be attending the Oscars this year, despite winning an honorary Oscar last November, and stars from George Clooney to Lupita Nyong’o have also spoken out about the lack of diversity in nominees. One wonders how Oscars host Chris Rock is going to address all this during the broadcast on Sunday, February 28. Let’s just say, the ABC folks will probably be ready with the time delay button for any F-bombs being dropped.