By Lynn Elber
Will Smith has resigned from the motion picture academy following his Oscars night slap of Chris Rock and said he would accept any punishment the organisation imposed.
A spokesperson for Smith issued a statement from the actor Friday afternoon, US time.
Will Smith won the best actor Oscar for his role in King Richard.Credit: AP
“I will fully accept any and all consequences for my conduct. My actions at the 94th Academy Awards presentation were shocking, painful, and inexcusable,” Smith said in the statement.
“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,” his statement said.
“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.
“Change takes time and I am committed to doing the work to ensure that I never again allow violence to overtake reason.”
Smith’s resignation came two days after the academy met to initiate disciplinary proceedings against Smith for violations against the group’s standards of conduct.
On Sunday, Smith strode from his front-row Dolby Theatre seat on to the stage and smacked Rock, who had made a joke at the expense of Smith’s wife, Jada Pinkett Smith.
“Jada, I love ya, GI Jane 2 can’t wait to see it,” Rock said, in an apparent reference to Pinkett Smith’s hair.
Smith then strode to the stage and appeared to slap Rock in the face.
“Will Smith just smacked the shit out of me,” Rock said.
Returning to his seat, Smith heckled the comedian angrily. “Keep my wife’s name out your f---ing mouth,” he yelled.
“Woah dude, it was a joke about GI Jane,” Rock responded.
“Keep my wife’s name out your f---ing mouth,” he replied once more.
Footage from the awards showed Smith initially laughed at the joke, but Pinkett Smith, who was sitting near her husband, rolled her eyes and looked genuinely annoyed. That was the prompt for Smith to stride onstage and strike Rock.
The moment after Will Smith slapped Chris Rock on stage at the Oscars.Credit: AP
Pinkett Smith has previously spoken publicly about living with alopecia.
Rock, who was about to present Oscar for best documentary, declined to file charges when asked by police.
In the days following the incident, it emerged that Smith was asked to leave the Oscars ceremony after hitting Rock, but he refused.
Jada Pinkett Smith and Will Smith at the Oscars.Credit: AP Photo/Chris Pizzello
“Things unfolded in a way we could not have anticipated,” the academy said. “While we would like to clarify that Mr Smith was asked to leave the ceremony and refused, we also recognise we could have handled the situation differently.”
The academy’s board of governors met on Wednesday to initiate disciplinary proceedings against Smith for violations against the group’s standards of conduct. The academy said Smith has the opportunity to defend himself in a written response before the board meets again on April 18.
The academy has about 9,500 members, representing numerous trades within the movie industry, including actors, directors, film editors and writers.
Later on at the awards Smith won the Oscar for best actor in a leading role for his performance in King Richard as Richard Williams, the father of Serena and Venus Williams.
Smith gave a heartfelt speech where acknowledged the incident with Rock, with tears streaming down his face.
Smith also apologised in his speech for his actions on stage.
“I want to apologise to the Academy, I want to apologise to all my fellow nominees. This is a beautiful moment. I’m not crying for winning an award ... it’s about being able to shine a light on all the people… the entire cast and crew of King Richard, and the entire Williams family.
“I look like the crazy father … but love will make you do crazy things.”
AP