These A-list celebrities are blowing off the Oscars this year - here's why

Spike Lee, George Clooney, Will Smith, and Jada Pinkett Smith are among those who have been vocal about the Oscars' lack of diversity this year and calling it a real problem.

For the second consecutive year, the Academy failed to nominate any minorities in the acting categories, and box-office hits led by black stars, such as "Straight Outta Compton," were snubbed from major categories.

While the Smiths and Lee are showing their objections by not attending the awards ceremony, Clooney and David Oyelowo have decided to make pointed critiques of the Academy.

Academy president Cheryl Boone Isaacs announced that "dramatic steps" would be taken to increase diversity among members in a Twitter statement.

The Oscars will take place February 28.

Here are the celebrities who will be skipping the awards or have publicly spoken out against the Academy: