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Transgender musician Anohni to skip Oscars
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NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Oscar-nominated transgender musician Anohni said in a statement posted online that she will not be attending the Academy Awards because she was not invited to perform on the telecast.

The artist who performed and co-wrote the song "Manta Ray," with J. Ralph for the film "Racing Extinction," posted a statement on her website on Thursday.

Anohni wrote that she does not believe she was excluded from performing because she is transgendered, but because she is not well known and sang a song about ecocide. She said producers for the show seemed to pick singers who were "commercially viable." Nominees Sam Smith, Lady Gaga and The Weeknd are performing on Sunday's awards show.

A representative for the Academy Awards did not immediately return an email on Friday seeking a response.