Tyrese Gibson Calls on Chris Rock to ‘Step Down’ as Oscars Host

Oscars

“Furious 7” star is the latest to weigh in on the controversy surrounding the lack of diversity among this year’s nominees

Getty Images

Add one more name to the growing chorus of Hollywood insiders speaking out about the lack of diversity in this year’s Oscar race — Tyrese Gibson.

The “Furious 7” star is calling on Academy Awards host Chris Rock to pull out of the hosting gig after no people of color were nominated in the 20 acting categories.

“The statement that you make is that you step down,” Gibson told People on Wednesday. “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 wasn’t done. He went into more detail on social media, saying if the situation involved the under-representation of LGBT nominees, there is no question things would be different.

“If Andy Cohen of ‪#‎WWHL‬ was hosting the Oscars and they purposely left out all gays and or homosexuals from being nominated for an ‪#‎Oscar‬ HE would of stepped down already,” Gibson wrote in a Facebook post. “This is a ‪#‎fact‬ click on the link in my IG BIO now we’re talking more about this!!!! For the record…… I HATE that this is all happening on the year that Leonardo DiCaprio is gonna win his first Oscar for BEST ACTOR…… Leo looooooveeessssss black people!!!!!! Leo in my homie!!!!!”

Gibson also blasted the Academy for failing to nominate the Wiz Khalifa-Charlie Puth single “See You Again,” from “Furious 7.” The chart-topping single received a Best Original Song Golden Globe nomination but lost out to Sam Smith’s “Writing’s On the Wall” from the “Spectre” soundtrack.

In a second Facebook post, Gibson took aim at Smith, who is also nominated for an Oscar.

“As Sam Smith gets up on stage to accept his Oscar award ( snatch mic..) .. See you again was one of the greatest songs of ALL TIME……. #Furious7 soundtrack…….,” a perturbed Gibson wrote.

So far there’s been no response from Smith.

Rock has not directly addressed the issue either, although he did reference it indirectly when he called the Oscars the “White BET Awards” in a recent tweet.