Will Smith Officially Resigns From Academy Membership Following Oscars Slap

Will Smith’s altercation with Chris Rock at the 94th Academy Awards on March 27 has created a lot of discussions. Smith faced backlash for his behavior, and the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences faced criticism for the speed of its response to the incident. Five days later, significant developments have occurred. The day after the incident, Smith issued a public apology. The academy then announced it would launch an investigation. Now, five days after the incident, Will Smith has formally announced his resignation from the academy. 

Will Smith announced his resignation from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences

In a statement received by Deadline on April 1, Smith stated that he has responded to the academy’s disciplinary notice. He went on to say that his behavior was inexcusable and noted that he still plans to accept any actions the academy takes. Still, he appears to be taking his fate into his own hands.

In the statement, the King Richard star acknowledged that his actions hurt many people. He named Rock, but also stated that his actions hurt all the nominees and winners at this year’s event. He went on to say that he has decided to resign because he wants to ensure the Academy can put its focus back on supporting the film industry. 

While the decision to resign was a shock, disciplinary actions from the academy were expected. Expulsion and suspension were both discussed during a March 30 meeting of the Board of Governors. More than 50 people were on hand for the virtual meeting. 

This story is being updated. 

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