Will Smith Resigns From Hollywood Film Academy Over Chris Rock Incident

Will Smith slaps Chris Rock onstage during the 94th Oscars at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood, Calif., on March 27, 2022. Robyn Beck/AFP via Getty Images

Actor Will Smith resigned from the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences following an incident on Sunday night where he slapped comedian Chris Rock at the Academy Awards in Los Angeles.

“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 said in a statement to several news outlets.

“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. The Academy is the entity that awards Oscars and hosts the annual Academy Awards ceremony and telecast.

Smith, who was awarded the Best Actor Oscar for “King Richard” on Sunday despite the incident, also said that “change takes time” and added he will “work to ensure that I never again allow violence to overtake reason.”

On Sunday, during the live broadcast of the Academy Awards, Rock made a “G.I. Jane” joke about Smith’s wife, Jada Pinkett Smith, before the actor walked on stage and appeared to slap Rock. While some speculated it was a prank to generate ratings, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences later condemned the incident and said it would move to discipline Smith, 53.

Will Smith walks away after appearing to slap actor Chris Rock onstage during the 94th Oscars at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood, California on March 27, 2022. Robyn Beck/AFP via Getty Images

The “Independence Day” and “Fresh Prince” star added in his statement Friday that he responded to the Academy’s disciplinary hearing notice and again apologized.

“I have directly responded to the Academy’s disciplinary hearing notice, and I will fully accept any and all consequences for my conduct,” Smith added. “My actions at the 94th Academy Awards presentation were shocking, painful, and inexcusable. 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.”

Rock, meanwhile, has issued few public comments about the matter and reportedly declined to press charges. But on Wednesday night, during a standup routine in Boston, Rock, 57, briefly addressed the incident.

“I don’t have a bunch of [expletive] about what happened, so if you came to hear that, I have a whole show I wrote before this weekend. I’m still kind of processing what happened. So, at some point I’ll talk about that [expletive]. And it will be serious and funny,” Rock told the audience, according to reporters on the scene.

Sales for Rock’s tour, meanwhile, have surged after the Oscars incident. A StubHub spokesperson The Hollywood Reporter that daily sales for Rock’s tour were 25 times higher than in the previous month.