Tyrese Gibson and 50 Cent are leading a call for Chris Rock to step down as host of the Oscars and join other celebrities who are boycotting the event because no black or minority actors were nominated for top awards.
"There is no joke that he can crack. There is no way for him to seize the moment and come into this thing and say, 'I'm going to say this and say that I'm going to address the issue but then I'm still going to keep my gig as the host,'" Gibson
told People magazine on Wednesday.
"The statement that you make is that you step down."
Gibson, a Grammy-nominated R&B singer, actor, and former fashion model, went on to praise film director Spike Lee and actress Jada Pinkett Smith for announcing that they're skipping the Academy Awards this year.
Actor Will Smith, Jada's husband, announced Thursday he would join her in boycotting the event.
Film director Michael Moore said he would also boycott.
Over on Instagram, rapper 50 Cent put out a similar call.
"Chris please do not do the oscars awards," he wrote,
according to The Hollywood Reporter. "You mean a lot man, don't do it. Please."
On the other side of the debate, actor Arsenio Hall, comedian Ricky Gervais, and Janet Hubert, who played Aunt Vivian on the "Fresh Prince," have suggested that Rock should maintain his hosting duties, and potentially use the position to draw attention to the issue.
As for the issue itself, many have pointed out that there are 20 nomination slots across the major acting categories. Because no black or minority actors have been nominated for two years in a row, that means the last 40 nominations have gone to white actors.
Rock has acknowledged the controversy on Twitter, joking that the Oscars are the "White BET Awards."
The Oscars are scheduled for Feb. 28.
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