This move comes as a surprise…
US actor Will Smith (53, “Men in Black”) has announced his resignation from the film academy as a result of the slap in the face at the Oscars. His behavior at the award ceremony was “shocking, painful and inexcusable,” wrote the recently awarded Oscar winner in a statement published by several American media.
In it, Smith explained that he had hurt many people – including laudator Chris Rock (57): “The list of those I have hurt is long and includes Chris, his family, many of my friends and their relatives …”
The Hollywood star is giving up its membership in the “Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences” and will accept possible further steps by the association, the statement said.
Smith concluded by saying, “Change takes time and I will do everything to ensure I never use violence again – for whatever reason.”
Smith smacked Rock onstage at Sunday night’s show in Los Angeles after the comedian made a joke about Smith’s wife, Jada Pinkett. The Oscar Academy said Wednesday after an emergency meeting that disciplinary proceedings would be initiated against the “King Richard” actor.
A possible consequence would have been the exclusion of the actor from the association.