Will Smith Says All-White Oscars Is ‘Almost Criminal’ In Furious New Interview

Will Smith is taking aim at the Academy once again! In a new interview, the ‘Concussion’ actor opens up about his decision to boycott the 2016 Oscars, admitting the show’s attitude towards diversity is ‘almost criminal!’ See his outraged comments below!

Don’t expect Will Smith to drop his feud with the Academy Awards any time soon. A week after announcing his decision to boycott the 2016 Oscars, the Concussion actor has stepped out in protest once again, this time slamming Hollywood’s “almost criminal” attitude towards diversity, a problem he claims is responsible for “narrowing the minds” of the American people. See his full comments below!

Speaking to Good Morning Britain on Jan. 28, Will opened about about his decision to boycott the awards show, admitting that the all-white Oscars is actually reflective of a much larger social issue.  “To me it’s a much broader issue than an award or an award show,” he explained. “The images that come out of Hollywood are supposed to be painting the picture of a rainbow future… a diverse and inclusive future. So if the image coming out of Hollywood narrows, it’s almost criminal. It’s like we’re narrowing the collective American imagination and that to me is the issue. It has to be as broad and as beautiful as the cultural globe is.”

Still despite his decision to boycott the awards show taking place in Los Angeles on Feb. 28, Will made it clear that he was not placing the blame solely on the Academy. “It’s not us and them, it’s we,” he explained. “I’m a member of the Academy, so this is a problem that we all have to solve collectively. For me the only reason it’s an issue this year is because it feels like a regression. There is something happening in our country that’s being reflected in Hollywood, that’s being reflected in the Academy that I for one, want to be a part of making the adjustment. I want to be part of the solution.”

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While some continue to criticize Will’s actions, claiming that they are nothing more than a sign of bad sportsmanship for being snubbed by the Academy, Will insists that that is not the case here. “My Oscars boycott has nothing to do with me being nominated or not, or wanting to win awards or not. That’s so frivolous,” he added. For me the issue is, I believe diversity is America’s superpower. I think that’s what makes our country great and special.”

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HollywoodLifers, what do you think about Will’s decision to boycott the Oscars? Sound off below!