‘Heartbroken’ Will Smith resigns from film academy after slap

US actor, solely the fifth Black man to win the Greatest Actor Oscar, faces disciplinary motion after slapping comic Chris Rock on stage.

US actor Will Smith wept as he received the Greatest Actor Oscar, solely the fifth Black man to win the award. He has now resigned the physique that awards the Oscars after his assault on Chris Rock through the ceremony [Robyn Beck / AFP]

Actor Will Smith has resigned from Hollywood’s Academy of Movement Image Arts and Sciences, saying on Friday that his slapping of presenter Chris Rock on stage at this 12 months’s Oscars ceremony was “stunning, painful and inexcusable”.

“I betrayed the belief of the Academy. I disadvantaged different nominees and winners of their alternative to have fun and be celebrated for his or her extraordinary work. I'm heartbroken,” Smith stated in a assertion.

“So, I'm resigning from membership within the Academy of Movement Image Arts and Sciences, and can settle for any additional penalties the Board deems applicable,” he stated.

Smith left the viewers eventually week’s Oscars open-mouthed as he strode as much as the stage and slapped Rock throughout the face after the comedian made a joke about his spouse’s closely-cropped head.

The actor then returned to his seat however shouted obscenities on the shocked comic.

It was unclear whether or not Rock was conscious that Pinkett Smith has alopecia, a situation that causes hair loss, when he made a reference to the 1997 movie GI Jane by which actress Demi Moore shaved her head.

Half an hour after the astonishing assault, Smith was awarded the Greatest Actor Oscar for his position within the sports activities biopic King Richard and made a tearful speech as he obtained the statuette.

There have been conflicting studies in current days over whether or not Smith was requested to depart the ceremony, with the Academy saying he refused to go.

The group stated this week it was beginning disciplinary motion towards the actor – solely the fifth Black man to win the film world’s highest particular person award for a person – and warned he may face a uncommon expulsion.

David Rubin, president of the movie academy, stated the Academy accepted Smith’s resignation however would proceed with disciplinary proceedings.

The matter is because of be mentioned on the group’s subsequent board assembly on April 18.

In his assertion, Smith added: “Change takes time and I'm dedicated to doing the work to make sure that I by no means once more enable violence to overhaul motive.”