Foxx versus Smith: Jamie Foxx took a veiled dig at Will Smith's #OscarsSoWhite boycott during the American Black Film Festival Awards in Beverly Hills on Sunday
The reason Will Smith doesn't have an Oscar is because he isn't a good enough actor, Jamie Foxx has implied.
Speaking at the American Black Film Festival Awards in Beverly Hills on Sunday, the Academy Award-winning actor make a joke about how he doesn't get 'what's the big deal' with Smith's Oscar boycott.
Smith and his wife Jada Pinkett-Smith are not attending this year's Academy Awards, citing systemic racism in the industry that has led the acting nominees to be all white actors for a second year in a row.
'All these Oscar talks, I don't even trip about that. I mean, what's the big deal? I was sitting at home with my Oscar, like 'What's all the hubbub?' Foxx said at Sunday night's event, as he was introducing producer Will Packer for the Distinguished ABFF Alumni Award.
'My friend said, "Are you mad?" "Um, kind of, but not really, "' Foxx continued. 'I started calling Denzel [Washington], and we just Instagrammed our Oscars together.'
He also made fun of Smith's Nigerian accent in the film Concussion, for which the 47-year-old actor only received a Golden Globes nomination of the three major American award ceremonies.
Foxx finished his bit by calling out '#WhatsTheBigDeal?' and '#ActBetter' - with the audience reportedly roaring with laughter.
As he changed the subject to acting legend Sidney Poitier, Foxx explained whey he doesn't care so much for the #OscarsSoWhite movement.
'I was with Sidney Poitier just a couple weeks ago, and in 1963 all he asked for was an opportunity to act, ' Foxx said. 'That's all we have to do, opportunity. If you turn the camera on and say "OK . . . win an award . . . and action, " we'll all have taken, like, 10 steps back. It's all about the art. Who cares about anything else?'
Drama: The 48-year-old Django Unchained star made fun of Smith's accent in the film Concussion (above) and then implied black actors should 'act better' if they want to win awards
Usually the presenting roles at award ceremonies are written by a staff, so it's unclear if Foxx's statements were his own.
Smith was not in the crowd for the award ceremony which was taped Sunday night, but other stars such as Pharrell Williams and Kerry Washington were in attendance.
While Smith has been a critic favorite since his jump into dramatic roles in the early 2000s, he has yet to win an Oscar, Golden Globe or Screen Actors Guild Award - despite being nominated for his roles in The Pursuit of Happyness and Ali.
AWARD NOMINATIONS AND WINS FOR JAMIE FOXX AND WILL SMITH
Jamie Foxx
Academy Awards
2004 - Nominated - Best Supporting Actor – Collateral
2004 - Won - Best Actor – Ray
Will Smith
2002 - Nominated - Best Actor - Ali
2007 - Nominated - Best Actor - The Pursuit of Happyness
Winners and losers: Foxx swept the Oscars, Golden Globes and Screen Actors Guild Awards in 2005 for his role in Ray (left). Smith has never won a major American acting award, despite being nominated for his roles in Ali (right) and The Pursuit of Happyness
