Will Smith Resigns From Academy Due to Chris Rock Oscars Slap

Will Smith is resigning from the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts & Sciences after slapping Chris Rock at the Oscars and will accept any further punishment from the organization. Smith, who has been the talk of the internet after he slapped the comedian for a bald joke about his wife Jada Pinkett Smith, issued a statement to Deadline today in which he accepted any consequences the Academy will levy toward him and resigned his membership in the group.

Smith’s statement reads:

“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 Academy announced earlier this week that it had begun a formal review of the incident and had named among potential sanctions suspension and expulsion. Deadline reports that while an expulsion was on the table for the group’s April 18th meeting about the incident, sources close to the matter said that the most likely punishment would have been a “long” suspension and no invitation to next year’s Academy Awards.