Will Smith Resigns from Academy Following Fallout from Oscars Slap
Will Smith has formally resigned from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences following his now infamous slap on Chris Rock during the Oscars telecast on Sunday (March 27.)
Smith issued a statement to various media outlets — including Variety and The Hollywood Reporter — where he said the following:
“I have directly responded to the Academy’s disciplinary hearing notice, and I will fully accept any and all consequences for my conduct. My actions at the 94th Academy Awards presentation were shocking, painful, and inexcusable. 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
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. 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. So, I am resigning from membership in the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, and will accept any further consequences the Board deems appropriate. Change takes time and I am committed to doing the work to ensure that I never again allow violence to overtake reason”
This is the latest response from Smith in the fallout from what is being dubbed “The Slap Heard ‘Round the World.” The day after the Academy Awards ceremony, Smith issued a statement to Instagram apologizing to Rock saying, in part, “I would like to publicly apologize to you, Chris. I was out of line and I was wrong. I am embarrassed and my actions were not indicative of the man I want to be. ”
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