Will Smith will join his wife Jade Pinkett Smith and will not attend the 2016 Academy Awards. The two actors are boycotting the Oscars ceremony over the lack of diversity of the actors nominated in the four major categories.
"My wife's not going. It would be awkward for me to show up with Charlize [Theron]," Smith said during an interview with "Good Morning America's" Robin Roberts on Thursday. "No, we've discussed it, and we're a part of this community, but at this current time, we're uncomfortable to stand there and say this is OK."
The star of "Concussion" is the latest star to speak out about the lack of diversity for the second year in a row at the Oscar's and joined Spike Lee, Lupita Nyong'o, David Oyelowo and George Clooney.
"I think diversity is the American superpower. That's why we're great," Smith continued. "So many different people from so many different places adding their ideas, their inspiration and influences to this beautiful American gumbo. For me, at it's best, Hollywood represents and then creates the imagery for that beauty. But for my part, I think I have to protect and fight for the ideals that make our country and the Hollywood community great. So when I look at the series of nominations from the Academy, it's not reflecting that beauty."
Smith has previously been nominated for Best Actor at the Academy Awards twice, according to Variety. He was first nominated for 2001's "Ali" and again in 2006 for "The Pursuit of Happyness." Both times he lost to another black actor, the first time to Denzel Washington in "Training Day" and Forest Whitaker in "The Last King of Scotland."
"So when I see this list and series of nominations that come out - and everybody is fantastic. That's the complexity of this issue. ... But it feels like it's going in the wrong direction," Smith said.
Check out his interview below:
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