Jada Pinkett-Smith passionately urged actors and actresses of color, as well as African-Americans to boycott the 2016 Academy Awards due to the lack of diversity in this year’s nominations.
Since then, director Spike Lee and Academy Award winner George Clooney have all spoken out against the many missing black and brown actors snubbed from receiving Oscar nods.
Academy Award President Cheryl Boone Isaacs released a statement on Twitter Monday (January 18) acknowledging the outrage and going as far as to say she’s “heartbroken and frustrated about the lack of inclusion.”
A statement from Academy President Cheryl Boone Isaacs pic.twitter.com/Nqhgc7sbqG
— The Academy (@TheAcademy) January 19, 2016
Jada Pinkett Smith took to Twitter Tuesday night (January 19) to address Isaacs’ statement.
I would like to express my gratitude to the Academy, specifically Cheryl Boone Isaacs, (pt 1)
— Jada Pinkett Smith (@jadapsmith) January 20, 2016
for such a quick response in regard to the issue at hand. I look forward to the future. (pt 2)
— Jada Pinkett Smith (@jadapsmith) January 20, 2016