UPDATEWill Smith canceled his membership of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences on Friday after the blow he dealt to presenter Chris Rock during the Oscars gala on Sunday and the disciplinary procedure that the organization started against him. That reports the showbiz website variety based on a statement from the actor.
“I have violated the trust of the Academy,” Will Smith said in the statement. “I have denied other nominees and winners the opportunity to celebrate and be honored for their extraordinary work.”
“I therefore revoke my membership of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences and will accept further consequences as the board deems appropriate,” the actor said.
In his statement, Smith again expresses regret for his act. He also writes that he wants to “work to ensure that I will never again allow violence to triumph over reason.”
Joke
During the live-streamed awards ceremony, Smith took the stage after Rock joked about his wife Jada Pinkett Smith’s appearance. Pinkett Smith suffers from the hair disease alopecia. He then punched Rock in the face.
Less than an hour later, Smith delivered an emotional speech after receiving the Best Actor Oscar for his role in King Richard† On Monday, the actor apologized to Rock, the Academy, the producers of the gala and TV viewers in a statement. In it, Smith stated that he had “gone too far and reacted emotionally.”
The Academy is a professional organization that is committed to the art of cinema. Membership is exclusively by invitation of the board and is in principle valid for life. Smith risked being suspended or disbarred for his blow. One of the most important activities of the organization is the annual presentation of the Academy Awards, the Oscars.
Now that he has canceled his membership, Smith can no longer vote for the Oscars. Also, he can no longer attend every event that the Academy organizes. According to the newspaper The Washington Post In principle, his decision will not affect the Oscar he won himself on Sunday, unless the Academy decides to take it from him. Smith could also be nominated for an Oscar in the future.
Disciplinary procedure
On Wednesday, the Academy announced that the organization has initiated disciplinary proceedings over the blow. The organization had previously said in a letter to members that it would “take appropriate action against Mr Smith” in response to the incident.
The Academy has more than 6,000 members, including actors, directors, camera operators, technicians, producers, and writers.
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