American actor Will Smith on Friday gave up his membership of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, the organization behind the Oscars, following the blow he gave to presenter Chris Rock during the Oscar ceremony. He called his behavior “shocking, painful and unforgivable.” This is reported by international news agencies.
In a statement, Smith said he “will fully accept the consequences of my conduct.” The Academy had launched disciplinary proceedings against the actor, who walked onstage during Sunday’s ceremony and punched comedian Rock in the face after Rock made a joke about Smith’s wife, Jada Pinkett Smith – to the shock of audience members and the television audience. .
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“I have violated the trust of the Academy, I have deprived other nominees and winners of their chance to celebrate their extraordinary work,” said Smith, who himself took home an Oscar for Best Male Actor in the film shortly after the incident. King Richard, in which he plays the father of tennis sisters Venus and Serena Williams. “My heart is broken.”
Voting rights for Oscars
The organization’s president, David Rubin, said the withdrawal had been accepted by Smith. He said the disciplinary action will continue ahead of a meeting of the organization’s board on April 18.
Membership in the Academy is by invitation and in principle for life. Members can vote for the Oscars; Smith loses that right to vote. The actor may have been suspended or expelled as a result of his behaviour. This has happened to only a few members, including former film producer Harvey Weinstein, director Roman Polanski and actor Bill Cosby.
The termination of membership will presumably not affect the Oscar Smith received, his first. He could also be nominated for an Oscar again in the future.
Rock has not yet commented on the incident in detail. He has not filed charges against Smith. At a comedy show in Boston last week, he said “still to process what happened.”