Pressure is mounting for Chris Rock to join the Oscars boycott.
Hip hop artist and mogul 50 Cent joins actor Tyrese Gibson in calling for Rock to turn down his hosting duties for the awards show in response to the #OscarsSoWhite issue.
Quincy Jones on Oscars Diversity: ‘You Can Boycott or You Can Fix It’
Jada Pinkett Smith, Al Sharpton and Spike Lee spurred the discussion by stating that they wouldn’t attend the Oscars Feb. 28 because of the lack of diversity in all four acting categories this year. The boycott is gaining momentum, as is the call for Rock to step down as well.
50 Cent took to Instagram to plead his case, telling Rock: “You mean a lot man, don’t do it. Please.”
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Gibson echoed his sentiments, saying on Instagram that “There is NO JOKE YOU CAN CRACK TO EVER CHANGE THE WAY WE ALL FEEL!”
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Gibson also took to Facebook on Wednesday, comparing Rock hosting this year’s Oscars to the hypothetical situation of Bravo’s Andy Cohen hosting in a year that LGBTQ nominees were shut out of the awards. “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,” says Gibson’s Facebook post.
Jada Pinkett Smith Thanks Academy President for ‘Quick Response,’ But Oscars Boycott Is Still On
He re-posted both Lee’s and Pinkett Smith’s messages earlier in the week, telling the actress, “I stand with you,” after she announced her boycott. Both 50 Cent and Gibson say that Rock should step down as Oscars host in order to support the boycott.
Snoop Dogg has also taken to Instagram to air out his grievances with the Academy Awards. “Somebody was actually like am I gonna watch the motherfucking Oscars. Fuck no,” he said about the annual ceremony in a video clip.
This article originally appeared in THR.com.
