Before facing possible consequences for his on-air slap of comedian Chris Rock during the Oscars telecast, Will Smith pulled the trigger and resigned from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS) of which he had been a member for over two decades.
In his compelling statement, Smith moved and saddened fans with another apology to accompany the announcement of his resignation.
Smith wrote:
"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."
Smith—who won his first Oscar on the controversial night—shocked the world after walking on stage and slapping Chris Rock who had just made a joke about Smith's wife Jada Pinkett Smith.
The AMPAS Board of Governors have since initiated disciplinary proceedings against the actor, and the potential for indefinite expulsion from the Academy still looms.
Regardless of the outcome, Smith said he is nonetheless "heartbroken."
Smith's statement continued:
"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."
"Many others share in his disappointment."
Others are heartbroken, too.
One person responded:
"This whole Will Smith slapping Chris Rock has blown way out of proportion."
"Networks canceling Will Smith's movies and for him to resign because of it."
"People make mistakes. So I guess everybody is perfect and Will is not."
"He apologized for his actions."
Someone else commented:
"[W]ill smith getting all these punishments over a slap is wild."
"[I] can understand having to resign from the academy but not netflix halting his show and the internet trying to cancel him."
Many feel the result of the night was unjust.
Some said Smith is not the person that ought to be resigning right now.
After announcing the decision to resign from the Academy in his statement, the Oscar winner asked for one thing from the masses—patience.
He wrote:
"Change takes time and I am committed to doing the work to ensure that I never again allow violence to overtake reason."
Some feel his resignation was appropriate and may have been prompted.
Others think his resignation is not enough.
One person tweeted:
"I'm sure Will Smith wasn't given any option but resign."
"Now he needs 2 voluntarily return his Oscar."
"Someone so full of himself, who thought it appropriate 2 slap [Chris Rock] on air & then with a smile on his face sit back down & refuse to leave doesn't deserve ANY RECOGNITION."
However, it's been made clear Smith's Oscar is not on the table as convicted criminals have kept their statuettes and title of "Academy Award winner."
The Board will decide his penalty on April 18 at their next board meeting. Until then, viewers can only speculate on the outcome.
