Will Smith has resigned from the Oscars Academy after smacking comedian Chris Rock on stage during last Sunday’s ceremony. “My actions at the 94th Academy Awards presentation were shocking, painful, and inexcusable,” his statement said.
The Academy said it accepted the resignation and would “continue to move forward” with disciplinary proceedings. Smith slapped Rock over a joke about his wife’s shaved head, a result of the hair-loss condition alopecia.
‘The list of those I have hurt is long and includes Chris, his family, many of my dear friends and loved ones, all those in attendance, and global audiences at home,’ Smith said. ‘I betrayed the trust of the Academy. I deprived other nominees and winners of their opportunity to celebrate and be celebrated for their extraordinary work. I am heartbroken.’
The actor also acknowledged that slapping Rock during the ceremony caused other award winners to be overshadowed.
‘I want to put the focus back on those who deserve attention for their achievements and allow the Academy to get back to the incredible work it does to support creativity and artistry in film,’ Smith, 53, said.
He also shared how ‘change takes time’ and he is now ‘committed to doing the work to ensure that I never again allow violence to overtake reason.’
The Academy said it has accepted Smith’s ‘immediate resignation’ and will ‘continue to move forward’ with its disciplinary proceedings against him for violations of the group’s standards of conduct. Smith’s resignation came two days after the organization met to initiate the disciplinary hearings.
“I betrayed the trust of the Academy. I deprived other nominees and winners of their opportunity to celebrate and be celebrated for their extraordinary work. I am heartbroken.”
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, which organizes the Oscars, is a global organization with around 10,000 members.
Most people cannot apply to join – they must be nominated by at least two existing members. People nominated for an Oscar are automatically considered and do not need to be nominated.
Smith said he wanted to “put the focus back on those who deserve attention for their achievements”.
He concluded that “change takes time and I am committed to doing the work to ensure that I never again allow violence to overtake reason”.
The Academy’s president David Rubin said it had accepted Smith’s resignation, but would continue its disciplinary proceedings.
Rock addressed the episode during a stand-up show in Boston on Wednesday, saying he was “still kind of processing what happened”.
The comedian, 57, who is currently starring in his “Ego Death” tour of the US, was greeted with a standing ovation by fans.
Rock had earlier decided not to press criminal charges against Smith, reports say.
Smith’s wife, actress Jada Pinkett-Smith, broke her silence in a brief Instagram post on Wednesday, writing: “This is a season for healing and I’m here for it.”
According to TMZ, the comedian appeared alone at the AMC Boston Common movie theatre in Massachusetts on Thursday. Rock walked into the theatre, got some popcorn, a hotdog, and some water, and then went to see a movie – the title of which is unknown.
But not before a fan, Gerard Cole, approached Rock and requested him to pose for a photo, which the comedian gladly agreed to while juggling an armload of movie snacks. Smith has yet to make an appearance in public.
Source: dailymail.co.uk
