This is a story all about how the Oscars controversy got flipped, turned upside down.
Will Smith is at the forefront of the current boycott against the Academy Awards following a lack of diversity among 2016's nominees. Really, the problem runs much deeper than that. The lack of diversity has been a trend throughout the 87-year history of the Academy, which is reportedly 94 percent white and 76 percent men.
The controversy caused a very public backlash against the Oscars and prompted passionate responses from all sides. But Smith wants everyone to pump the brakes on all the anger. On a recent appearance on "The Graham Norton Show," the actor said he wants to get rid of the whole "us and them" mentality.
"There is no us and them. It's we. I'm a member of the Academy," said Smith, who feels there's been a regression in America lately towards racial and religious exclusion.
"For me, it's more about putting my hand up and reminding my community, the Hollywood community, that we have to lead. That diversity is America's superpower. That's what makes our country great."
So will this all have a positive outcome?
"It always does," the actor said. "If you lead with love and light, good is always going to come out of it."
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