The Weeknd, Pharrell Booked For Oscars Ceremony Amidst Racism Protests

Bryan Steffy/Getty Images

The Weeknd, Pharrell Booked For Oscars Ceremony Amidst Racism Protests

Bryan Steffy/Getty Images

The Oscars deservedly caught a lot of flak for the lack of diversity among the nominees in major categories this year, and it looks like they are trying to compensate for that lack during the ceremony itself. (Spike Lee, Will Smith, and Jada Pinkett Smith have already expressed their intent to boycott the ceremony.)

As The Los Angeles Times reports, The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has announced the first round of performers and presenters, and among them are musical guests Pharrell and the Weeknd. Presumably, the latter will perform their Oscar-nominated 50 Shades Of Grey soundtrack contribution “Earned It,” and the former will do …. one of the the N.E.R.D. tracks from the SpongeBob SquarePants movie? Sam Smith is also scheduled to perform his nominated James Bond theme “Writing’s On The Wall.”

Other presenters announced include Kevin Hart, Whoopi Goldberg, Benicio del Toro, Tina Fey, Ryan Gosling, and Charlize Theron. The Academy Awards will air on 2/28.

more from News