--- title: Will Smith is 'Pleased' With Academy's Response To Diversity description: "It’s a problem we all have to solve.” canonical: https://time.com/4199622/will-smith-oscars-diversity/ author: Entertainment Weekly article:opinion: false article:content_tier: free article:published_time: 2016-01-29T14:44:04.000Z article:modified_time: 2026-08-04T07:56:25.094Z article:section: Entertainment og:title: Will Smith Is 'Pleased' With Academy Response to Diversity Issue og:description: "It’s a problem we all have to solve” og:url: https://time.com/4199622/will-smith-oscars-diversity/ og:site_name: TIME og:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/bltf034f8429c7e24f1/69887b38ab6d77339d6a82d1/will-smith-oscars-white-diversity.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 og:image:width: 2799 og:image:height: 1574 og:image:alt: "Concussion" Special Screening Hosted By Will Smith, Susanna Reid and Brian Moore og:type: article twitter:card: summary_large_image twitter:title: Will Smith Is 'Pleased' With Academy Response to Diversity Issue twitter:description: "It’s a problem we all have to solve” twitter:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/bltf034f8429c7e24f1/69887b38ab6d77339d6a82d1/will-smith-oscars-white-diversity.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 ---  # Will Smith Is 'Pleased' With Academy Response to Diversity Issue > Sponsored content. 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Terms and conditions apply. * Savings buckets are a feature of Ally Bank's Savings Account. * No ATM fees from Ally Bank at Allpoint and Moneypass ATMs plus we reimburse for fees charged by other ATM owners nationwide up to $10 per statement cycle. * Early direct deposit offers eligible direct deposits up to two days sooner. * Spending buckets are a feature of Ally Bank's Spending Account. ## Video: Spike Lee and Jada Pinkett Smith Refuse To Attend #OscarsSoWhite [Watch (HLS stream): Spike Lee and Jada Pinkett Smith Refuse To Attend #OscarsSoWhite](https://cdn.jwplayer.com/manifests/gzurYtS1.m3u8) (1:22)  _Published 2016-01-18. Spike Lee and Jada Pinkett Smith will not attend the Academy Awards after it was announced that all 20 contenders in the acting categories were white._ by [Christopher Rosen / Entertainment Weekly](https://time.com/author/entertainment-weekly/) ## Christopher Rosen / Entertainment Weekly Jan 29, 2016 2:44 PM UTC  Will Smith attends a special screening of "Concussion" hosted by Will Smith, Susanna Reid and Brian Moore at The Ham Yard Hotel on January 28, 2016 in London, England. Will Smith attends a special screening of "Concussion" hosted by Will Smith, Susanna Reid and Brian Moore at The Ham Yard Hotel on January 28, 2016 in London, England. David M. Benett—WireImage by [Christopher Rosen / Entertainment Weekly](https://time.com/author/entertainment-weekly/) ## Christopher Rosen / Entertainment Weekly Jan 29, 2016 2:44 PM UTC Will Smith is “very pleased” with how “quickly and aggressively” the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences responded to the outcry over the [lack of diversity within its ranks](http://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-35436751). But speaking to the BBC on Friday, the _Concussion_ star made clear that the issue goes much deeper than who wins an award. “This is far beyond me. This has nothing to do with me. This has nothing to do with awards,” Smith said. “Awards are a really frivolous reason for me to put my hand up and make a statement. For me, this is much more about the idea of diversity and inclusion.” Smith was one of a number of high-profile celebrities to speak out against the Oscars after this year’s nominations were revealed, joining his wife, Jada Pinkett Smith, in saying he would not attend the awards ceremony. For the second straight year, all 20 men and women nominated in the acting categories are white. “The nominations reflect the Academy, the Academy reflects the industry – reflects Hollywood,” [Smith told _Good Morning America_](http://www.ew.com/article/2016/01/21/oscars-will-smith). “The industry reflects America. It reflects a series of challenges we’re having in our country at the moment. There’s a regressive slide towards racial and religious disharmony. That’s not the Hollywood I want to leave behind. \[…\] That’s not the America I want to leave behind.” In the wake of the controversy that erupted, the Academy announced rule changes in an effort to help change the make-up of its voting body by adding more women and people of color. “The Academy is going to lead and not wait for the industry to catch up,” [Academy President Cheryl Boone Isaacs said last week](http://www.ew.com/article/2016/01/22/oscars-diversity-membership-changes). “These new measures regarding governance and voting will have an immediate impact and begin the process of significantly changing our membership composition.” “It’s not us and them. It’s we,” Smith said on Friday. “I’m a member of the Academy. It’s much more a domestic family issue than it is a civil rights issue. It’s a problem we all have to solve.” _This_ [_article_](http://www.ew.com/article/2016/01/29/will-smith-oscars) _originally appeared on_ [_EW.com_](http://ew.com) ## Transcript Spike Lee, the honorary Oscar recipient, rejected his invite to attend the 88th annual academy awards due to the lack of diversity among the nominees. In an Instagram post attached to a photo of a young MLK, Lee said " How is it possible for the second consecutive year, all 20 contenders under the actor category are white ?" Hey Chris. I will not be at the academy awards, and I won't be watching, but I can't think of a better man to do the job at hand this year than you, my friend. Good luck. And to the rest of you, nothing but love, always. Jada Pink and Smith follow SOUP with a shout out to host Chris Rock as she forfeited her invite as well. The actress called on the black community to remember they are powerful people. Who should consider making programs that are just as good as the so- called mainstream. I found a disease that no one has ever seen. Some consider her husband Will Smith snubbed for best actor nomination for his role in concussion, along with Idris Elba for his role in Beasts of No Nation, both of whom were nominated for Golden Globes. Other notable snubs include a best director nod for Creed's Ryan Coogler. And Samuel L Jackson for the Hateful Eight. Got room for one more. The lack of diversity resurrected last year's social media campaign Oscars so white. 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