Will Smith Oscars Mess: Actor Resigns Before Possible Expulsion for Chris Rock Slap
Will Smith has resigned.
After all that had been said by celebrities and fans, the actor finally decided he had it.
Will Smith Resigns and Apologizes
He has tendered his resignation from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences instead of being expelled or suspended for assaulting Chris Rock at Sunday's Oscar telecast.
The action comes as the actor faces his most serious career crisis as the Academy Awards organization struggles to deal with the aftermath from the very public brawl.
Apart from resigning, Smith said in a statement that he accepts whatever additional repercussions the Academy's Board of Governors deems appropriate.
In addition to Chris, Smith acknowledged that what he did was damaging to his friends and family, as well as the global audience at home in his official statement.
"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. "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."
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Will Smith: Oscars Mess Overshadowed Other Good Stuff
Smith also admitted that his actions overshadowed other Oscar winners and other good things that happened that night.
True enough, so many people are still talking about the Oscars up to today and the conversations only revolve around WIll Smith slapping Chris Rock.
He added that change takes time and that he is determined to be completing the work to guarantee that he would never again allow violence to overshadow his reason anymore.
Rock had compared Jada Pinkett Smith's shorn head to Demi Moore's buzzcut in "G.I. Jane" during the show, and Smith charged the stage and struck him. The thing is, Pinkett Smith has alopecia, and it was an insensitive joke.
But camps have formed for the two sides, with the one camp saying Will Smith should not have chosen violence, still.
The Academy later reported Smith refused to leave the ceremony and yet, reports claimed that the organization's officials never asked him to leave and producer Will Packer begged him to stay.
Packer suggested on GMA on Friday that what happened was he told Smith could stay at Rock's request, but Rock's team denied this.
It's a complicated story about what happened behind the scenes, certainly. The aftermath is also quite messy. It remains to be seen if this resignation can curtail all the talks already.