Although several celebs are outraged that no Black actors were nominated for an Oscar this year, Academy Award winner Jamie Foxx seems unfazed by it all and believes others should be, too.
While on stage at the American Black Film Festival Awards at the Beverly Hilton Hotel on Sunday, Feb. 21, the actor-comedian-singer joked about the burning issue.
“All these Oscar talks, I don’t even trip about that,” Foxx joked, according to Us Weekly. “I mean, what’s the big deal? I was sitting at home with my Oscar, like ‘What’s all the hubbub?’ … My friend said, ‘Are you mad?’ ‘Um, kind of, but not really.’ ”
In the midst of announcing producer Will Packer as the winner of the Distinguished ABFF Alumni Award, the Annie actor continued, “I started calling Denzel [Washington], and we just Instagrammed our Oscars together.”
“#WhatsTheBigDeal, #ActBetter,” Foxx added, making the crowd erupt in laughter.
Foxx won for Best Actor at the Academy Awards in 2005 for his role as Ray Charles in the musician’s biopic, Ray. Washington won an Oscar twice — once in 1989 for Best Supporting Actor in Glory and again in 2001 for Best Actor in Training Day.
On a more serious note, Foxx discussed a conversation he had with legendary entertainer Sidney Poitier about the history of Black actors in Hollywood.
“I was with Sidney Poitier just a couple weeks ago, and in 1963 all he asked for was an opportunity to act,” Foxx said. “That’s all we have to do, [get an] opportunity. If you turn the camera on and say ‘OK … win an award … and action,’ we’ll all have taken, like, 10 steps back. It’s all about the art. Who cares about anything else?”
Celebs such as Will Smith, Jada Pinkett Smith, and Spike Lee have vowed to skip this year’s Oscars due to its lack of diversity. However, a number of other Black entertainers are still expected to be present. Chris Rock will host the show, while some of the presenters will include Kevin Hart, John Legend, Morgan Freeman, Whoopi Goldberg, Common, Quincy Jones and Kerry Washington.
The 88th Academy Awards airs Sunday, Feb.. 28 at 7 p.m. EST on ABC.
