Janet Hubert, who played Vivian Banks on “The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air” from 1990 to 1993, has slammed Jada Pinkett Smith after she called for actors of color to boycott the Oscars.
“There’s lots of s–t going on in the world that you all don’t seem to recognize,” Hubert said. “People are dying. Our boys are being shot left and right. People are starving. People are trying to pay bills. And you’re talking about some … actors and Oscars. It’s just ain’t that deep.”
She continued:
And here’s the other thing, for you to ask other actors, and other black actresses and actors, too, to jeopardize their career and their standing in a town that you know damn well you don’t do that … And here’s the other thing — they don’t care. They don’t care! And I find it ironic that somebody who has made their living, made their living and made millions and millions of dollars from the very people you’re talking about boycotting just because you didn’t get a nomination, just because you didn’t win.
Although Hubert was addressing Pinkett Smith in her video, she also took aim at her former co-star Will Smith. “Well karma must be a bitch, cause now here you are,” she said, referencing an old pay-raise dispute with Smith. “Here you are, you’ve had a few flops and you know there are those out there who really deserved a nod.”
Smith’s performance in “Concussion” was noticeably absent from the Best Actor category, despite earning a nod at the Golden Globes.
Director Spike Lee, who received an honorary Oscar last year, also said he’s not attending this year’s show. Chris Rock, who’s been selected to host, has not pulled out of the show despite mounting pressure.
Warning: Explicit language