Jada Pinkett Smith, Don Cheadle comment on #OscarsSoWhite

This past week, the Oscar nominations were released to much celebration and criticism, specifically because of the lack of diversity among the nominees. Actors Jada Pinkett Smith and Don Cheadle added their voices to the criticism.

Quickly after the nominations were announced, #OscarsSoWhite started to trend across social media. It is the second consecutive year that the Oscars failed to nominate any minority actors.

Smith took to her Facebook page to express her thoughts. Many noted that her husband, Will Smith, missed out a nomination for his work in the drama Concussion.

"At the Oscars ... people of color are always welcomed to give out awards ... even entertain, but we are rarely recognized for our artistic accomplishments," Smith wrote. "Should people of color refrain from participating all together?"

Cheadle took a more comedy focused approach when it came to his reaction. The actor, who was nominated for an Oscar for Hotel Rwanda in 2005, tweeted to Chris Rock, who is hosting the Oscars this year.

@chrisrock Yo, Chris. Come check me out at #TheOscars this year. They got me parking cars on G level.

— Don Cheadle (@DonCheadle) January 17, 2016

Many celebrities and filmmakers have been expressing their feelings about the lack of diversity in the nominations. Will Packer, who produced Straight Outta Compton, didn't hold back when it came to his reaction. He wrote a lengthly piece on Facebook, explaining that it was "embarrassing" and that more people of color should be recognized for their work behind the camera.