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Will Smith has become one of the most controversial figures in Hollywood of late. He bagged his first Academy Award for best actor for his epic performance in the film King Richard, but this momentous achievement has been overshadowed by his unacceptable actions during the 94th Academy Awards.
Earlier in the week, Smith sent a heartfelt apology to fellow actor Chris Rock as well as the Academy for going on stage to slap Rock after a joke gone wrong. Smith's Instagram apology did little to quell the public outcry over the violence he exhibited during the esteemed event. So much so, that there have been calls for Smith to be suspended or expelled from the Academy for his actions. In this light, Smith has decided to act first and has now tendered his resignation from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.
Smith released a statement on Friday detailing his decision to remove himself from the esteemed body. The 53-year-old said that he is “heartbroken” for putting the Academy in a bad light for his actions:
“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 said, via The Hollywood Reporter. “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.”
The entertainment world was placed in an absolute state of shock after Smith decided to slap Rock on stage as the latter was presenting the award for best documentary. Rock made a rather insensitive joke about Smith's wife, Jada Pinkett Smith, referencing the film G.I. Jane as a jab at her bald head. Apparently, Jada is dealing with a medical condition called Alopecia, which is “an autoimmune disorder that causes your hair to come out, often in clumps the size and shape of a quarter.”
Smith later admitted that he was triggered by Rock's joke about his wife's condition and this was what led to his decision to take action:
“Violence in all of its forms is poisonous and destructive. My behavior at last night’s Academy Awards was unacceptable and inexcusable. Jokes at my expense are a part of the job, but a joke about Jada’s medical condition was too much for me to bear and I reacted emotionally,” Smith wrote in his apology.
Smith apologized to Rock as well as the Academy before ending his earlier statement by saying how “I deeply regret that my behavior has stained what has been an otherwise gorgeous journey for all of us.”
For their part, the Academy has accepted Smith's decision to resign from the body. They responded to Smith with an official statement:
“We have received and accepted Mr. Will Smith’s immediate resignation from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. We will continue to move forward with our disciplinary proceedings against Mr. Smith for violations of the Academy’s Standards of Conduct, in advance of our next scheduled board meeting on April 18.”
As the above statement reads, Smith is not out of the woods just yet. It remains to be seen what disciplinary actions he will be facing and whether or not this includes the revocation of his best actor award.
