Jada Pinkett Smith Answers Janet Hubert’s Attacks: ‘Controversy Isn’t Really About the Oscars’ (Video)

Jada Pinkett Smith answered criticism from former “Fresh Prince of Bel-Air” actress Janet Hubert about the Oscars boycott by saying the issue “isn’t really about the Oscars.”

“Considering that Alabama had its highest recruitment for the KKK for Martin Luther King’s birthday, I hope that we as African-Americans can find a way to get along and step together,” Pinkett Smith said in an Entertainment Tonight video on Wednesday.

The actress and wife of Will Smith referenced reports that a Ku Klux Klan chapter was sending out recruitment flyers.

“This whole Oscar controversy isn’t really about the Oscars,” Pinkett Smith added. “Really, in my plea to ask all communities and people of color to take back our power is so that we can use it in all sectors of our community, and right now, specifically with African-American people, we have some very serious issues that I think we as a people have to move together on.”

Also Read: 'Fresh Prince' Actress Janet Hubert Steps Up Attack on Jada Pinkett Smith

Pinkett Smith’s statements come after her husband’s former “Fresh Prince of Bel-Air” co-star posted a four minute video on Facebook in reaction to Pinkett Smith’s decision to boycott the Oscars because of the lack of diversity among this year’s acting nominees.

“First of all, Miss Thing, does your man not have a mouth of his own with which to speak?” Hubert said, directing her message at Jada. “And the second thing is, there’s a lot of shit going on in the world that you don’t seem to recognize. People are dying, being shot left and right, people are hungry, people are trying to pay bills — and you’re talking about actors and Oscars. It just ain’t that deep.”

On Wednesday, Hubert stepped up her attacks, accusing Pinkett of being “a pretend freedom fighter.”

Also Read: Will Smith Joins Wife Jada in Oscars Boycott: 'We're Uncomfortable'

“I’m a real freedom fighter. I’m not a pretend freedom fighter. I stand up for other actresses, other people,” Hubert continued. “The Smiths just irked me because they are such pretenders, and everything is a photo op,” she said.

Pinkett Smith didn’t seem fazed.

“I’m hoping we can find ways to step together in this instead of finding ways to fight each other,” she said. “I got love for everybody.”

Watch the video:

Jada Pinkett Smith Applauds Academy's Push for Diversity

'Fresh Prince of Bel-Air' Actress Janet Hubert Slams Jada Pinkett Smith Over Oscars Boycott