In January 2016, Ice Cube and the *Straight Outta Compton* team faced a glaring omission: no Oscar nomination for their groundbreaking screenplay. When asked if he’d attend the ceremony, Cube replied bluntly on *The Graham Norton Show*:
“I never used to go anyway. You can’t boycott something that you never went to anyway.”
That response didn’t just shrug—it slammed Hollywood’s establishment for ignoring Black creators. Cube refused to validate a system that sidelined their story, framing his absence as personal integrity and a broader statement for representation.
Fans and critics praised his stance. The clip went viral, and media coverage—like in *Entertainment Weekly*—highlighted Cube’s stance as unapologetic and principled. He didn’t need awards to prove the film’s impact.
This moment elevated Cube from former rapper to cultural truth-teller. No glitzy ceremony. Just raw authenticity and fierce pride in his work—and that resonated across a divided industry.