Will Smith has resigned from The Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences following his now-infamous slapping of Chris Rock at the 94th Oscars. Smith took to the Oscars stage on Sunday after Rock made a joke about his wife, actress Jada Pinkett Smith, approaching the comedian and slapping him in the face before returning to his seat and yelling at him from the audience. Rock continued with the awards presentation without incident. Just over forty minutes later, Smith was awarded the Best Actor trophy for his work in King Richard. Smith took to the stage and gave an emotional speech that ended with a standing ovation from the crowd.
In the fallout from the debacle, Rock declined to press battery charges against Smith, while Smith later apologized via his Instagram. Conflicting reports arose over what exactly transpired after the slap occurred, with some saying Smith was asked to leave, while others said he was asked to stay. The Academy issued a statement days later saying they condemned the violence at the show and that they would be initiating an investigation that would have ramifications for Smith’s actions.
In the wake of the Academy’s investigation, Smith reached out to apologize to the Board, issuing a statement (via Variety) announcing that he is resigning from his membership in the Academy and “will accept any further consequences” that the Board “deems appropriate.” Smith re-emphasized his intent to change and vowed to “never again allow violence to overtake reason.” Read Smith’s full statement below:
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.
The reaction to Smith’s violent altercation at the Oscars has spawned a plethora of reactions from around Hollywood, with many calling out the Academy and Hollywood in general over the lack of action that was taken on the night of the incident, as well as the days that followed. Smith will likely keep his Best Actor Oscar, but could still face disciplinary action from the Academy. It’s entirely possible that the actor could be re-admitted at some point and it may not inhibit him from being nominated in the future, but his overall participation in the organization will for now come to a close.
With all eyes being on how this issue is resolved, not just by Smith, but by Hollywood and the Academy, doing the right thing is a strong first step. Although his actions are inexcusable, Will Smith is at least taking responsibility for them and issuing the appropriate and necessary apologies to move forward. While his resignation from the Academy won’t be the end of this debacle, it sets an appropriate course for the situation to be resolved in a way that addresses what happened, enacts the proper amount of discipline, and ensures something like it won’t happen again. It will surely remain a contentious issue regardless, but hopefully some measure of justice will come from it.
