Next month, Chris Rock is set to host the 2016 Academy Awards in a year that’s become increasingly controversial for the nominations since they were announced earlier this month. From Jada Pinkett Smith and Spike Lee, to the Academy President Cheryl Boone Isaacs have spoken about the glaring absence of persons of color in the Oscar nominations, especially considering several were nominated for Golden Globes. Ironically enough, Chris Rock, a black actor that spent much of his time in the press last year speaking out about Hollywood’s race problem while promoting his most recent film, Top Five, will be hosting the famed awards ceremony.
Today, black actor and R&B star Tyrese took to Instagram to highlight a New York Daily News headline–“Could Chris Rock drop out as Oscar’s host?”–that echoed his sentiments, accompanied by following caption:
Chris Rock do the right thing make a statement – were relying on you to DO the right thing….. There is NO JOKE YOU CAN CRACK TO EVER CHANGE THE WAY WE ALL FEEL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
All eyes will be on the February 28th ceremony, and though Chris Rock has yet to comment on Tyrese–and several other Hollywood figures in agreement with him–there will certainly be a conversation surrounding the comedian’s duties this year.
