Executives at the embattled Academy of Arts & Sciences are scrambling to find A-list black superstars to present Oscar Awards.
The Academy’s president, Cheryl Boone Isaacs, who is black, is struggling to bring “diversity” to the Oscars in the form of black presenters.
Isaacs hopes to silence critics such as Jada Pinkett Smith who accuse the Academy of racism for failing to nominate a single black actor in any major category.
The Academy reportedly reached out to superstars like media guru Oprah Winfrey and past Oscar winner Morgan Freeman to hand out top awards to the all-white nominees.
Music icon Quincy Jones said he was approached to be a presenter with music producer Pharrell Williams and rapper Common.
“I’m going to ask [the Academy] to let me speak for five minutes on the lack of diversity. If not, I’m not going…,” Jones said Wednesday.
A-list actor Will Smith announced he will skip the Oscars this year and stay home with his wife, Jada.
“We’re uncomfortable to stand there and say that this is OK,” Smith told Robin Roberts during an appearance on ABC’s Good Morning America on Thursday.
Smith did not receive a nomination for his role in the flop movie, Concussion.
“My wife’s not going. It would be awkward to show up with Charlize [Theron],” he laughed.
