Will Smith, who faces a possible expulsion or suspension after attacking Chris Rock during last Sunday’s Oscars broadcast, has instead resigned from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences. The move comes as the actor is embroiled in the worst crisis of his career and the organization behind the Oscars is grappling with the aftermath of the altercation. In a statement, Smith called his actions “shocking, painful and inexcusable” and said he will accept any additional consequences the Academy Board deems appropriate.
“The list of those I have hurt is long and includes Chris, his family, many of my dear friends and loved ones, everyone present and the global audience back home,” Smith said. “I betrayed the academy’s trust. I deprived other nominees and winners of the opportunity to celebrate and be celebrated for their extraordinary work. My heart is broken.”
Smith also acknowledged that his actions overshadowed other winners at the 94th Academy Awards.
“I want to bring the focus back to those who deserve recognition for their accomplishments and allow the Academy to get back to the incredible work they do to support creativity and artistry in film,” he explained, concluding “Change takes time and I am committed to doing the work to ensure I never again allow violence to overwhelm reason.”
During the ceremony, Smith stormed the stage and slapped Rock during the broadcast after Rock made a joke about the actor’s wife, Jada Pinkett Smith, comparing her shaved head to Demi Moore’s buzzcut in GI Jane. Pinkett Smith suffers from hair loss due to alopecia.
The Academy later said they asked Smith to leave the ceremony and he declined. However, sources tell Variety that the organization’s leaders never officially asked for him to be kicked out of the company, and producer Will Packer urged him to stay. During an appearance on GMA on Friday, Packer said he said Smith should stay at Rock’s request – something Rock’s camp has disputed.
It’s a very convoluted narrative of what exactly went on behind the scenes. What is certain is that Smith stayed at the Dolby Theater where he won Best Actor for his performance in King Richard. In an emotional speech, Smith appeared to try to justify his actions by saying that his outburst was a result of the same protective instincts that led his character in the film, Richard Williams, to push his daughters Venus and Serena Williams to succeed in the world of tennis. His speech, initial failure to apologize to Rock, and his decision to attend the Vanity Fair party after the awards shows were not well received by some members of the Academy.
Smith finally apologized to Rock on Monday, saying, “I was out of line and I was wrong.” He added that he reacted emotionally because “one joke about Jada’s health was too much for me.”
After the academy initially issued a statement saying it did not condone violence, the academy followed up with two more statements that criticized Smith more strongly. On Wednesday, the group said Smith violated the Academy’s standards of conduct and that he had 15 days to provide a written response explaining his actions. The organization said Smith faced a suspension, deportation or other sanctions.
The Academy’s formal investigative and disciplinary process is still progressing, a person familiar with the group told Variety.
optional screen reader