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Photo by Randy Shropshire/Getty ImagesSo far, Spike Lee, Jada Pinkett Smith and filmmaker Michael Moore have announced they will not attend the Oscars ceremony in response to the lack of nominations for black actors. And now, Tyrese says he believes that Chris Rock should step down from hosting the ceremony on February 28.
Tyrese took to Twitter to express why the comedian should take a stand. “Don’t do this Chris…. Please bro… This isn’t the way… RT @chrisrock: The #Oscars. The White BET Awards,” he tweeted.
The singer later argued that if other groups were secluded from the Oscars, then they would have already bailed. “If Andy Cohen of #WWHL or Ellen [DeGeneres] were hosting the Oscars and they purposely left out all gays and or homosexuals from being nominated for an #Oscar THEY would of stepped down already,” he wrote on Instagram.
Tyrese clarifies that he’s saddened that this issue is taking away from the nominees. “For the record…… I HATE that this is all happening on the year that Leonardo DiCaprio is gonna win his first Oscar for BEST ACTOR,” he added. “Leo looooooveeessssss black people!!!!!! Leo [is[ my homie!!!!!”
50 Cent also encouraged Rock to reconsider. “”Chris please do not do the oscars awards. You mean a lot man, don’t do it. Please,” he wrote on Instagram.
Meanwhile, Academy president Cheryl Boone Isaacs released a statement Monday declaring that she’s “heartbroken and frustrated” about the “lack of inclusion” at the 2016 Oscars.
“This is a difficult but important conversation, and it’s time for big changes,” Boone Isaacs wrote, adding that her team has already implemented some changes but acknowledged that more needs to be done.
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