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

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.’ ”

Also Read: Stacey Dash on Oscars Diversity Backlash: 'There Shouldn't Be a Black History Month' (Video)

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.

Also Read: Whoopi Goldberg Rips Oscars for Lack of Diversity: 'It Pisses Me Off' (Video)

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.

Also Read: BET Founder Bob Johnson Calls Out Oscars, Black Community Over Diversity Drama

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.

The #Oscars. The White BET Awards. https://t.co/8qjLR0uysI

— Chris Rock (@chrisrock) January 15, 2016

Who's Boycotting Oscars So Far - And Who's Just Mad (Photos)

Spike Lee

The director has refused to attend this year's Academy Awards because no people of color were nominated. "How is it possible for the 2nd consecutive year all 20 contenders under the actor category are white? And let’s not even get into the other branches. 40 white actors in 2 years and no flava at all. We can’t act?! WTF!!” he tweeted.
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Jada Pinkett Smith

The actress -- whose husband, Will Smith, was snubbed for Best Actor for "Concussion" -- pondered on social media whether people of color should participate in the Oscars at all. “At the Oscars, people of color are always welcomed to give out awards, even entertain, but we are rarely recognized for our artistic accomplishments.
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Will Smith

The actor announced that he will not be attending this year’s Oscars ceremony in support of the boycott proposed by wife Jada Pinkett Smith.

"At this current time, we’re uncomfortable to stand there and say, ‘This is OK,'" he said.
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David Oyelowo

The actor, while presenting a King Legacy Award to Academy president Cheryl Boone Isaacs, pointed out that this is the second year in a row the Academy has failed to nominate a single non-white actor. "For 20 opportunities to celebrate actors of color, actresses of color, to be missed last year is one thing; for that to happen again this year is unforgivable.”
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Michael Moore

The filmmaker told TheWrap that he plans to join the boycott, and said "I thought about this all day, and I don’t plan to go to the show, I don’t plan to watch it and I don’t plan to go to an Oscar party."
Will Packer

The "Straight Outta Compton" producer called the situation "embarrassing" in a lengthy social media post. “To my Academy colleagues, WE HAVE TO DO BETTER. Period."
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Chris Rock

The actor-director, who will host the Academy Awards on February 28, made light of the controversy. He tweeted a new Oscars promo along with the caption “The #Oscars. The White BET Awards.”
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Tyrese Gibson

The “Furious 7” star called on Academy Awards host Chris Rock to pull out of the ceremony after no people of color were nominated in its 20 acting categories. He also 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.
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Don Cheadle

The actor joined the discussion Sunday by tweeting at Chris Rock, saying he’ll be “parking cars” at the Hollywood & Highland complex the night of the ceremony.
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Whoopi Goldberg

"The View" host tore into the lack of diversity during Tuesday's episode: “We have this conversation every year and it pisses me off."
The View
BET Founder Bob Johnson

Johnson didn't just blame Oscar voters for the lack of diversity among this year's nominees, he told TheWrap studios must greenlight more diverse projects. He also implored African Americans to tell their own stories rather than depend on the Hollywood establishment.

"If you’re the African-American society and you wait for white America to say ‘I’m gonna tell your stories,’ first of all, they don’t know them or appreciate them, and second of all, that is not in their DNA,” he said.
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Mark Ruffalo

The "Hulk" actor told BBC Breakfast that he is "weighing" taking part in the Oscar boycott, stating that "the entire American system is rife with white privilege racism. It goes into our justice system.” He later took to Twitter to clarify his statements, in which he said that he will be attending the awards "in support of the victims of clergy Sexual Abuse and good journalism."
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Earl Ofari Hutchinson

Los Angeles Urban Policy Roundtable President Earl Ofari Hutchinson said his organization will "launch a nationwide 'TV Tune Out' of the Oscars ceremony, February 28. This will send the message that diversity in the film industry must be more than a hollow promise."
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Al Sharpton’s National Action Network

Al Sharpton’s civil rights organization is calling for a boycott of this year’s Oscars. “The lack of African Americans and women excluded from the major categories of Oscar nominees is appalling,” the chapter’s political director, Najee Ali said in a statement. “Cheryl Boone Issacs, the African-American president of the academy, is nothing but a pawn, and the black face of Hollywood’s system and culture that is racist, sexist and lacks true diversity.”
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