#OscarsSoWhite and the biggest CBC Arts quotes of the week

The conversation surrounding #OscarsSoWhite is far from over. Exhibitionists' host, Amanda Parris, shared her take after the 2016 Academy Awards nominations went live, and the lack of diversity among this year's honourees prompted some of the most thought-provoking quotes of the week. We lead with some of those lines in our round-up of the biggest arts headlines of the last seven days.

"The truth is we ain't in those rooms and until minorities are, the Oscar nominees will remain lily white."

As #OscarsSoWhite becomes a talking point for the second year in a row, director Spike Lee responds to the lack of diversity seen in the Academy Awards nominations, announcing on Instagram that he will not attend this year's ceremony.

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

Following Spike Lee's Instagram post, Jada Pinkett Smith publishes a video message on Facebook, proposing an Oscar boycott.

"Just because the world don't go the way you want it to go, doesn't mean you can go out and start asking people to sing We Shall Overcome for you."

Janet "the first Aunt Viv" Hubert, calls out Jada Pinkett Smith and Concussion star Will Smith (her Fresh Prince nephew), in a YouTube video slamming their proposed Oscar boycott.

"Diversity is the American superpower. That's why we're great. When I look at the series of nominations of the Academy, it's not reflecting that beauty." 

Will Smith talks to Good Morning America about the Oscar nominations and why he's not attending this year's show.

"[The Academy] doesn't reflect its president and it doesn't reflect this room. I am an Academy member and it doesn't reflect me, and it doesn't reflect [the U.S.]"

David Oyelowo, star of 2014's Selma, goes off-script during a gala for Academy president Cheryl Boone Isaacs, to slam the Oscar nominations.

"There should be 20 or 30 or 40 films of the quality that people would consider for the Oscars. By the way, we're talking about African Americans. For Hispanics, it's even worse. We need to get better at this. We used to be better at it."

George Clooney responds to #OscarsSoWhite in a column for Variety.

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

In an official statement, Academy president Cheryl Boone Isaacs promises that Oscar will take "dramatic steps" to become more inclusive.

"I have played a lot of unfit mothers. I guess I'm hoping if I play them in reality I won't do it. Maybe I get it out of my system?"

Schitt's Creek, Home Alone... Catherine O'Hara jokes with Tom Power on CBC Radio's q about a certain trend in her comedic roles.

"If a writer has real impact, I feel like writing after I read them."

CanCon king Tom Cochrane talks to CBC Radio's The Next Chapter about how his songwriting is inspired by powerful prose.

"We simply cannot allow the corporate greed of the coal, oil and gas industries to determine the future of humanity."

At the World Economic Forum in Davos, actor Leonardo DiCaprio announces his foundation will donate $15 million to environmental projects.

"The bond we forged 45 years ago was never broken, even during the 14 years that the Eagles were dissolved. Glenn was the one who started it all. He was the spark plug, the man with the plan."

Don Henley remembers his Eagles bandmate Glenn Frey, who died this week at 67.

"It's not a very good song, is it?"

Coldplay recalls how David Bowie shut down a collaboration with a single sentence, thus giving the world one more reason to miss the Starman dearly.

"I know where to put this. Right on the shelf right beside my Millennium Falcon!"

Vancouver's Jacob Tremblay on winning a Critics' Choice Award for his performance in Room.

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