Oscars 2016: Amid Controversy, Academy Lines Up Five Non-White Presenters and Performers

Whoopi Goldberg (Getty)

By Gregg Kilday

Whoopi Goldberg and Kevin Hart are among the first presenters announced.

Whoopi Goldberg and Kevin Hart will be among the presenters handing out Oscars at the 88th Academy Awards. The first group of presenters and performers, announced today, also includes Benicio del Toro, The Weeknd and Pharrell Williams.

Other presenters who are scheduled to take part in the Feb. 28 ceremony ceremony hosted by Chris Rock include Tina Fey, Ryan Gosling, Lady Gaga, Sam Smith, Charlize Theron and Jacob Tremblay.

“Each of these artists brings a wonderfully distinctive element to the Oscars stage,” the show’s producer David Hill and Reginald Hudlin said in making the announcement. “Together they represent the many thrilling ways stories can be shared about the human experience, and we’re honored they will be part of the celebration.”

Because of the lack of non-white nominees in the acting categories and the resulting #OscarsSoWhite controversy, there have been some calls for a boycott of the ceremony.

But Goldberg, a past Oscar winner and host of the show, has said on The View that while she was upset about the nominees’ lack of diversity, she didn’t support a boycott, especially with Rock hosting.

“Boycotting doesn’t work, and it’s also a slap in the face to Chris Rock,” she said. “I find that also wrong. So I’m not going to boycott, but I’m going to continue to bitch, as I have, all year round, because I’m tired of seeing movies where no one is represented except a bit of the population.”