A couple of days after the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences’ Board of Governors initiated self-described “disciplinary actions” against Will Smith over his slap of Chris Rock at Sunday’s Oscars, the Oscar winner has preempted the harsh punishment that he could have received and left the organization.
Here is the full statement Smith provided to Deadline today:
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.
March 30 is the date, after a sometimes contentious virtual meeting of the more than 50 Governors, including the likes of Steven Spielberg, Ava DuVernay, and Rita Wilson, the King Richard star was informed he had 15 days to respond in writing to their assertion that he violated the Academy’s standards of conduct with his violent behavior on March 27. The group was then scheduled to meet on April 18 to decide Smith’s fate.
While expulsion was on the table under the Oscar organizers’ rules and taking away Smith’s Oscar never was, sources close to events tell us that a long suspension and no invitation to the 95th Academy Awards were among the most likely punishment to be handed out in the end.
Today’s exit by Smith from AMPAS also comes as further controversy swirls about how Smith was asked to exit the Dolby Theater on March 27 after striking and screaming at Rock on live TV for a cracking about Jada Pinkett-Smith’s hair.
