Angela Bassett Backs Chris Rock Amid #OscarsSoWhite Controversy: 'You Can't Effect Change If You're Not in the Room'

While some in Hollywood debated whether Chris Rock should drop out as host of this year’s Oscar telecast as repudiation of the award’s grievous lack of non-white nominees, count Angela Bassett as being firmly in favor of the star comedian taking the stage on Sunday night.

“I’m supportive of the host this year,” Bassett, who costars in the upcoming action sequel London Has Fallen, told Yahoo Movies. “There was talk about should he, should he not? You can’t effect change if you’re not in the room. You can’t effect change if you refuse to vote. You have to make your views voiced and your spirit known.” Watch the video above.

Bassett, who was nominated in 1994 for her performance as Tina Turner in What’s Love Got to Do With It?, says she won’t be attending the ceremony this year, but she’s very interested in watching it on television. Several prominent black actors and filmmakers, including Spike Lee and Jada Pinkett Smith, are pointedly skipping the show. As for Rock, it’s still unclear how he’ll address the controversy, dubbed #OscarsSoWhite online. “Chris has made no decisions about the content of the show,” his publicist said in a statement to the press last month. “All will be revealed on Feb. 28.”