Sylvester Stallone Oscars Boycott 2016 Offer, 'Creed' Director Ryan Coogler Urged Him Not To

By Lauren Huff (lauren.huff@mstarsnews.com) | Feb 09, 2016 10:30 PM EST

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Sylvester Stallone is a near lock to win Best Supporting Actor at this year's 2016 Oscars for his role in Creed, but the actor almost decided to boycott the event. However, Ryan Coogler, Stallone's Creed director, urged him not to.

Stallone recently made headlines for his suggestion that he would be willing to boycott the Oscars alongside actors Spike Lee and Jada Pinkett Smith (among others) for its lack of diversity amongst this year's nominees. However, he says he ultimately left it up to Coogler.

Speaking at the Academy Awards luncheon Monday, Stallone said, "I said, 'Ryan, how do you want to handle this? Because I really believe that you are responsible for me being here. Michael Jordan, every time I look in his eyes as an actor, he's making me better. I think he should've been given a lot more respect, a lot more attention."

According to Stallone, Coogler told him to go and represent the film. Further explaining Coogler's response, Stallone said, "I said, 'If you want me to go, I'll go, if you don't, I won't,'" Stallone recalled. "[Coogler said] 'No, I want you to go.' That's the kind of guy he is. 'I want you to go and respect us and stand up for the film.'"

George Miller, whose film Mad Max: Fury Road is up for 10 awards at this year's Oscars, also spoke about the diversity issue at the awards luncheon. When asked if the diversity conversation would affect his filmmaking choices in the future, the director said, "To be honest, I hadn't thought about it in terms of the next movies I hope to make." He continued, "I think casting is story-driven, but I think what's really good about what's happened, if there's a positive to come out of it, it's alerted everybody to the problem."

Winners of this year's Oscars will be announced Feb. 28.

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