In all honesty, I am really, really trying to work on two posts. One post will be on my new healthy diet and the other on travel. But the news media threw me a bone and I felt compelled to give my two cents and my opinionated opinion. In other words– vidi-vidi-venting!
I’m sure you all know by now that both Spike Lee and Jada “Mrs. Will Smith” Pinkett have been extremely vocal about their boycott of the 2016 Oscar awards. I guess Jada wears the pants in that family because I haven’t heard or seen anything from her husband Will. Will wasn’t nominated for an Oscar this year. I guess Jada is just pissed off that he failed to receive a nomination.
I swear to goddess–Spike is SUCH a New Yorker–he isn’t happy unless he is bitching about something! I KNOW this. I AM an ex-New Yorker. I love to bitch too Spike!
HOLLYWOOD, CA – FEBRUARY 24: Actors Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith attend the premiere of Warner Bros. Pictures’ “Focus” at TCL Chinese Theatre on February 24, 2015 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images)
Looks like poor ol’ Will is whipped. Jada speaks for him–I guess she wears the pants. Poor Will–you’re still so adorable!
Guess what Jada? Every year there are a great many actors and actresses who are snubbed by Oscar. They are young. They are old. They are white. They are black. They are Asian. They are Indian. They are Hispanic. They are biracial. They are Athiests. They are Lesbian. They are Homosexual. They are Catholic. They are Jewish. They are Muslim. As heartbreaking as this is, I’ll even bet some are Liberals! This shit happens!
Guess what Spike? Every year there are really, really wonderful films that are made by directors and writers who are white, black, Hispanic, French, Swedish, Jews, Atheists, Homosexual, Catholic, Muslim and the list goes on. This shit happens!
And another thing. Why are “Bollywood” films snubbed and excluded from the Academy Awards. “Bride and Prejudice” was one of the greatest films ever made. I NEVER miss a viewing when it’s on TV! It’s fun, it’s colorful (and that’s no pun!)..it’s happy!
Should we all boycott Larry David because his “Jewishness” played such an important role in “Curb Your Enthusiasm”? Do you think he snubs anyone who isn’t Jewish? He wrote about what he does and knows best about—being a Jewish comedy writer. And a genius one at that!
Larry finds out his lawyer isn’t Jewish–but the end result is one of the funniest conclusions to this Curb episode! Who cares if Larry doesn’t trust anyone who isn’t Jewish? It’s part of his charm!
I’m not done yet either. Jada. Think back to 1987 through 1993. Do you remember the show you were on “A Different World”? Think back to 1990 when your husband’s show “Fresh Prince of Bel Air” was on TV. Well, I do. I remember both shows. I used to watch those shows with my kids. They were young back then and when we watched those shows, we didn’t see them as “black” TV shows. We saw them as great family programming.
A Different World was a great family show–and focused on the trials and tribulations ALL young college students face.
My kids, as well as I, STILL love this show! Will Smith hasn’t aged a day. I’m wondering what his skin care regime is–Oops. I’ll have to ask Jada because she is the voice of Will!
I hope you realize this. I hope you also realize that so many families and children who watched and loved those shows were an incredibly diverse group of people. The days after “Fresh Prince” aired, you could see a bunch of white, black, Hispanic, Asian kids in their school yards rapping:
Now, this is a story all about how
My life got flipped-turned upside down
And I’d like to take a minute
Just sit right there
I’ll tell you how I became the prince of a town called Bel Air
What the hell is more important to you? A little statue or the fact that two shows you and your husband were on had such a positive influence on kids and families of all ethnic groups? Really. A month after the Oscars are aired, nobody will remember who won. We will remember who looked like shit and who looked fabulous though!
Seriously–nobody will even remember who wins–it’s all about the clothes, makeup and hair!
And Spike—you’ve done well with your films. You’ve been nominated for and won a number of awards. You should be proud and happy about what you’ve accomplished instead of boycotting an event when you aren’t nominated.
Do The Right Thing Spike. Don’t be bitter. Use positivity. Not negativity!
If you both were truly and deeply concerned about diversity, you would be on a platform for actors—especially Actresses over the age of 60. You would be wondering just why there aren’t many OLDER Latino, Indian or Asian actors/actresses in vital roles. (Oh and Jada, you’re age is creeping upwards. You should be concerned about ageism my friend!) Face it you two. You are NOT the only minority! You would be scratching your heads thinking “Hmmm…isn’t “White Hollywood” funny—the only “old lady” choices are Helen Mirren and Meryl Streep—and sometimes Jane Fonda!”
Helen Mirren. THE hottest older woman ever! But she isn’t the only one!
Meryl Streep..another great “mature” actress/actor!
I’m pissed that the great Lily Tomlin was overlooked for an Oscar for her performance in “Grandma”. But I guess the Oscar powers-that-be figured Charlotte Rampling was good enough for the token “old lady” nominee!
Another great old broad. Lily Tomlin. She was snubbed..
I guess that’s because Hollywood can only have ONE older actress nominated!
And what about “Trainwreck”? Huh? Where’s the love for sluts of all ages? In my eyes, Trainwreck was practically a documentary! And it was snubbed!
This documentary movie about sluts was so snubbed..and sluts sleep with everybody. Sluts don’t care about ethnicity! They love size diversity!
If you both are truly and deeply concerned about the state of “Hollywood” lack of diversity, perhaps it is time for you to quit the business that has given you the salaries that most of us can only imagine and find a more meaningful line of employ. Perhaps as an educator in a public school, or as an accountant.
Better yet, perhaps you can join the ranks of the hundreds of thousands of the melting-pot of Americans such as me who have no income and no medical insurance. You definitely would be a part of an incredibly diverse group of people! You would fit right in with us.
Or—you can do as I do. Boycott in silence. I boycott fashion magazines because they refuse to focus on older women in ads and in editorials. Now there’s a minority. Old Ladies! We are black, white, Asian, Indian—and are all old and ignored by society. Wanna join my club? I refuse to watch network TV shows due to their lack of older actresses and the ones who are older are usually portrayed in the worst of matronly and grouchy ways.
I could boycott life at my age—but I always prefer to see the glimmer of hope. That little ray that just may shine on people and make them realize that older people are important.
People may snub those my age, but we certainly won’t boycott life!
Perhaps you should do the same—look for that glimmer of light rather than focus on negativity.
Chris Rock was right. The Oscars are “The White BET Awards” . He gets his message through with laughter.
Chris Rock, don’t you DARE step down as host of the Oscars! You can send a great message through laughter. Give it to us!
Laughter works. Thank you Chris..and I hope to laugh at your “White People” jokes on Oscar night!
I swear we were more progressive in the late 1960’s. Here’s a song (with the great Nell Carter) to prove it to you. From “Hair” “White Boys/Black Boys”
