Will Smith Won’t Attend the 2016 Oscars

Seeing how Jada Pinkett Smith has made it abundantly clear that she won’t be attending the 88th Annual Academy Awards, it shouldn’t come as a surprise that her husband will be a no-show as well.

Will Smith confirmed on Good Morning America that he’ll be skipping this year’s Oscar ceremony. Many thought Smith would receive a nomination for his leading work in Concussion. The Academy didn’t recognize Smith, however. As a matter of fact, they didn’t nominate a single performer of color for the second year in a row. This has lead to the #OscarSoWhite trend that has dominated social media.

Smith told Robin Roberts that he and his wife would feel “uncomfortable to stand there and say that this is okay.” The actor went on to discuss the lack of diversity represented with this year’s set of nominees and how it could hurt Hollywood in the long run. “There’s a regressive slide towards separatism, towards racial and religious disharmony and that’s not the Hollywood I want to leave behind.”

Many people are also debating that comedian Chris Rock should step down as this year’s Oscar host in protest. Of course Rock could make an even bigger impact if he stayed on to host the Oscars and made fun of the Academy on their own stage.