Hollywood star Will Smith has resigned from Hollywood’s Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences after he punched presenter Chris Rock at the Oscars ceremony.
“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,” Smith’s statement said.
“So, I am resigning from membership in the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, and will accept any further consequences the Board deems appropriate,” the statement added. According to reports, Academy could also revoke the Oscar. The Academy said it would make any decision on the issue next month.
Read more: ‘I was out of line’: Will Smith finally apologises to Chris Rock
Smith-Rock fiasco
For those unversed with the entire ordeal, it occurred after Chris Rock, the award show presenter, started poking fun at Will Smith’s wife Jada Pinkett, and her alopecia. At the time, he branded her GI Jane 2, in response to her baldhead, and simultaneously incited an enraged reaction by the actor who could be heard saying, on live television, “Keep my wife’s name out of your [expletive] mouth”.
