Should Coloured People Boycott Oscars? Calls To Boycott Increases

The issue has arisen as British actor Idris Elba accused UK TV of not having enough diversity.

Several Oscars watchers had tipped Elba for a nod for Beasts Of No Nation.

British actor David Oyelowo, who missed out on a nomination for Selma last year, said: "I am an Academy member and it doesn’t reflect me, and it doesn’t reflect this nation.

"For 20 opportunities to celebrate actors of colour, actresses of colour to be missed last year is one thing; for that to happen again this year is unforgivable."

Calls are growing for a boycott of the Oscars over the predominance of white actors and films with only white characters.

Actress Jada Pinkett Smith and director Spike Lee said they will not be attending the ceremony for the 88th Academy Awards on 28 February over the nominations.

All 20 nominations for best actor/actress and supporting actor/actress went to white performers.

Smith, in particular, said she wouldn't be watching, after her husband Will Smith was not nominated for his performance in the NFL movie Concussion.

In a video message on Facebook she added that it was time for "people of colour" to disregard the awards.

She said: "Begging for acknowledgement, or even asking, diminishes dignity and diminishes power, and we are a dignified people and we are powerful."

"Let's let the academy do them, with all grace and love. And let's do us differently."

Cheryl Boone Isaacs, the president of the film academy, said: "This is a difficult but important conversation, and it's time for big changes.

"We need to do more, and better and more quickly.

"In the 60s and 70s it was about recruiting younger members to stay vital and relevant. In 2016, the mandate is inclusion in all of its facets: gender, race, ethnicity and sexual orientation."