Will Smith resigns from the Academy with dramatic gesture, braces for more heat

In the fallout of what has arguably been the most infamous Academy Awards ceremony, Will Smith has decided to discipline himself, as he awaits further word from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, by resigning from the organization for his “shocking, painful, and inexcusable” actions after slapping comedian Chris Rock during the live broadcast Sunday.

Smith asserted that he would “never again allow violence to overtake reason” in his continued efforts to prostrate himself over his response to a joke at the expense of his wife Jada Pinkett Smith. After Rock quipped he expected to see Pinkett Smith in a G.I. Jane sequel, Smith slapped the comedian in a move he now acknowledges “betrayed the trust of the Academy” and hurt a long list of people.

“I have directly responded to the Academy’s disciplinary hearing notice, and I will fully accept any and all consequences for my conduct,” Smith began his resignation Friday in a statement reported by Fox News Digital. “My actions at the 94th Academy Awards presentation were shocking, painful, and inexcusable.”

After having already publicly apologized to Rock late Monday on social media stating in part, “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,” the actor reiterated the harm he brought to the comedian and others.

“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 added, “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,” he went on. “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,” Smith ultimately declared, “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,” he concluded.

The unprecedented assault at the prestigious award ceremony had police reportedly prepared to arrest Smith for battery. However, Rock declined to press charges over the matter. The comedian has yet to fully address the incident publicly and remarked Wednesday during his “Ego Death” comedy show that he was “still kind of processing what happened.”

Meanwhile, the Board of Governors for the Academy had begun their investigation of the incident Wednesday and made clear “disciplinary action” against Smith “may include suspension, expulsion, or other sanctions permitted by the Bylaws and Standards of Conduct.”

Dave Rubin, president of the Academy, issued his own statement in response to Smith’s untimely severance from the organization that said, “We have received and accepted Mr. Will Smith’s immediate resignation from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. We will continue to move forward with our disciplinary proceedings against Mr. Smith for violations of the Academy’s Standards of Conduct, in advance of our next scheduled board meeting on April 18.”

While the actor has voluntarily removed himself from the Academy, it remains possible that he may never be permitted reentry and that his Best Actor award for the film “King Richard,” where he portrayed Richard Williams, father and coach to tennis players Venus and Serena Williams, may be stripped from him.

DONATE TO BIZPAC REVIEW

Please help us! If you are fed up with letting radical big tech execs, phony fact-checkers, tyrannical liberals and a lying mainstream media have unprecedented power over your news please consider making a donation to BPR to help us fight them. Now is the time. Truth has never been more critical!

Success! Thank you for donating. Please share BPR content to help combat the lies.
Kevin Haggerty

Comment

We have no tolerance for comments containing violence, racism, profanity, vulgarity, doxing, or discourteous behavior. If a comment is spam, instead of replying to it please click the ∨ icon below and to the right of that comment. Thank you for partnering with us to maintain fruitful conversation.

BPR INSIDER COMMENTS

Scroll down for non-member comments or join our insider conversations by becoming a member. We'd love to have you!

16 thoughts on “Will Smith resigns from the Academy with dramatic gesture, braces for more heat

  1. So he resigned, I am sure I am among the many who don’t care. The whole pat each other on the back club is a joke! The entertainment industry has gone to hell and looks as if it will stay there.

  2. Wow, like there is no other news, like war in Ukraine, people dying, homeless, crisis at the border, and the list goes on…….

  3. Who the hell cares that he resigned from the academy, what does that even mean??? Now if he woudl stop putting out all of those crappy movies, now that woudl be something to write home about. Smith slapped a guy for making a comment about his wife’s short hair, and yet he has done nothing to the guy that is sleeping with his wife, Oh wait they have an Open Marriage of which they are so proud that they go on TV to talk about it. In Hollywood you would need a 24/7 update just to keep up with who is sleeping with who, or is it whom??? These so called celebrities change partners more often then most Normal People change their socks. The bottom line is, “Who the Hell Cares???”

  4. I’m told that when Chuck Norris tells a joke about Will Smith’s wife, Will Smith slaps himself.

  5. NOW what am I going to do the rest of the day knowing that Will has resigned?? What GOOD has that organization EVER done for anyone other than the “elites”? Have they EVER DONATED to any charities other than the ones that SUPPORT THEM?? Have they EVER gone to a Children’s Hospital to visit sick kids?? Have they EVER forgone their “GOODY BAGS” and insisted that those funds be used to help ANYONE ELSE???
    WHY did I quit watching and don’t really give a crap about their “awards”??? AND NO Will – the ONLY PERSON you HURT was Mr. Rock because most others really don’t care!!

  6. WELL I guess it’s better for him that he pretends he wasn’t asked to leave! I’ll just ADD him to my list of “actors” NOT to watch ! And that includes any re-runs that he gets money from ! Time to let these morons know that they need us and we DON’T need them.

  7. By resigning, I guess that means that Will Smith will no longer be able to vote for himself for an Oscar.

  8. The 24-hour coverage of this is beyond insane. Can’t figure out who wants to watch the Academy Awards or care about this incident.

  9. All I can say is that it will be a long time before I watch any movie that involves the Smith clan.

Comments are closed.

Latest Articles