Will Smith resigns from film academy over Chris Rock slap

[Omaha Steve]

Source: AP

By LYNN ELBER

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Will Smith resigned Friday from the motion picture academy following his Oscars night slap of Chris Rock and said he would accept any further punishment the organization imposed.

A spokesperson for Smith issued a statement from the actor Friday afternoon.

“I will fully accept any and all consequences for my conduct. My actions at the 94th Academy Awards presentation were shocking, painful, and inexcusable,” Smith said in the statement.

“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. “I am heartbroken. I want to put the focus back on those who deserve attention for their achievements and allow the Academy to get back to the incredible work it does to support creativity and artistry in film. ”



Presenter Chris Rock, left, reacts after being hit on stage by Will Smith while presenting the award for best documentary feature at the Oscars on Sunday, March 27, 2022, at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello)


Read more: https://apnews.com/article/oscars-jada-pinkett-smith-will-smith-chris-rock-entertainment-b11234425a83cd5384ecede456ff0013

[C_U_L8R]

1. You can't expel me, I quit.

Pretty slick pr strategy.

[TheBlackAdder]

23. The joke wasn't about hair. It drew a parallel between Demi leaving Willis for a 16y younger Kutcher

.

That was about the age difference of the man Jada had an affair with.

.

[questionseverything]

28. O

[Skittles]

31. LOL

[calimary]

52. Indeed?

"Is it wrong that I'm smiling?"

[Kire]

29. Nixon did it first.

.

[Mr.Bill]

2. He got resigned. n/t

[lisa58]

3. So he doesn't have to face expulsion...

Probably a negotiated agreement

[cstanleytech]

8. I'm not sure he would or should have been expelled.

Suspended, yes of course as it was his choice to strike Rock and it was not a spur of the moment thing where he suddenly turned around and did it but he had to walk way up to him on stage to do it.

[lisa58]

11. Seriously? He committed a crime...

It’s 5 days later - it’s a negotiated settlement

[cstanleytech]

22. "He committed a crime" "it's a negotiated settlement"

Where did I argue against either?

[Mike Nelson]

4. Hmm...

... I see his management team has not quit!

[Journeyman]

5. What does this mean? He can still make films, I imagine (too big a draw to lose that!) . . .

Is he just no longer invited to parties? Can he no longer win another Oscar? Or is he ostracized by the community and no longer allowed to wear a tuxedo or walk on a red carpet?

[calimary]

53. Wonder who wrote it for him?

I'm kinda surprised that he's playing humble here. I guess he wants to try to make sure he's invited back next year? (As this year's Best Actor winner, he'd be the one to present next year's Best Actress award.)

[Journeyman]

54. As I understand it, all that happens is he's ineligible to vote for future Academy Awards . . .

He can still be nominated for Awards, still win Awards, and he gets to keep his Award from this year.

I suspect he'll be back next year to present, as part of a continuing "rehabilitation tour." I'd be surprised if Chris Rock showed up with him, but it's not outside the realm of the possible.

[FarPoint]

6. Well....

that is a start.......He needs long term therapy/ abuse behavior cycle intervention..... He is equal to a Harvey Weinstein of controlling, abusive men... I see what that slap to Chris Rock was; as an assault on every viewer world wide....He victimized the entire audience.... We saw the inner demon of Will Smith that I sense others have seen...

I refuse to ever watch another one of his movies, old and new.

[harumph]

9. "equal to a Harvey Weinstein..."

Seriously?

[FarPoint]

10. Yes... this is a comparison...abuse is abuse...

We all were victims of his self serving, impulsive, abusive behavior...His arrogance, control issues/ feeling justified to disrupt the Academy Awards and assault Chris Rock...Chris, a man just doing his job as hired to do...He assaulted all of us watching...it felt like someone poured a bucket of ice water over me as a viewer.... his actions were unvalidated, self serving, controlling..

I think many domestic violence/abuse victims from childhood and adulthood who have been abuse victims felt this as well.

Said victims are always on edge....example...a victim may just be doing what is normal, like a wife going shopping and gets the wrong brand of cereal, " Bam"...slap in the head, screamed at, kicked...etc...displaced anger. Chris Rock was doing what was normal for him...

Then, lets take the picture further....Will Smith when accepting the Oscar, he went into the predictable remorse phase post abusive behavior, included tears...which is really a mixed message for the victim, as it blames the victim and the abuser validates decision and does not really take ownership of wrong doing.....

It was 40 minutes between the " slap" and the awarded Oscar...no real intervention, heck, he was intimidating at that point be it his stardom and include his rage potential....Will Smith needed a quick intervention for his behavior...that never happened.

[oregonjen]

16. There are a few videos circulating showing him slapping others

Seems like that’s his go to, to slap, when he’s upset.
Totally agree with you regarding abuse. When he went up and basically made an excuse for why he assaulted Chris, it was sick. The “he made me do it” type of response with tears.

[FarPoint]

17. Yes .

You understand....

[noiretextatique]

26. how many others?

i heard about him slapping a reporter who kissed him, but nothing else. Will needs to address his abuse issues. He watched his father beat his mother, and said he felt like a coward for not protecting her.

[Lulu KC]

39. +1 n/t

[a kennedy]

7. So what does this mean actually?? He's Done in Hollywood??? No more movies??

or no more Hollywood movies, and he can make movies for other organizations that aren’t associated with Hollywood???

[Journeyman]

15. All that happens is he's ineligible to vote for future Academy Awards . . .

He can still be nominated for Awards, still win Awards, and he gets to keep his Award from this year.

Sounds devastating. I guess.

[Submariner]

12. Kick him out of SAG

and kick his ass to the curb. No one can watch him in character anymore without visualizing the slap.

He's done in the movie biz.

[summer_in_TX]

18. SAG is a union.

The Screen Actors Guild. I don't think it would kick out a dues paying member. Just saying.

It was shameful behavior and ruined the evening for a lot of people who deserved to enjoy their moment. But I missed the slap and haven't gone back and watched it. Maybe that's why I don't see him as that person, defined forever by one (or several) bad acts, although refusing to do the work required to be a better human being would disappoint me and might cause me to change my mind.

I've enjoyed him in movies and probably will continue to enjoy him. His portrayal in King Richard was superb and the Oscar was well-deserved.

[FarPoint]

19. That detail is true for me ..

Can't watch him ever again....I like many of his movies too...

[Akoto]

45. I can watch his movies. I don't bother with the Oscars. nt

[left-of-center2012]

13. Awaiting responses from DU supporters of Will Smith

Some here applauded what Will Smith did.
What say they now?

[Skittles]

33. it boggles the mind

toxic masculinity is seriously disturbing and should not be defended

[Akoto]

46. I do not watch the Oscars, but it was my understanding...

... That he and his wife were the target of an inordinate amount of humor that night. It's the Oscars, them roasting each other a little is tradition, but it's in good spirit. If it began to get insulting, his temper may well have been on the fence when the insulting joke about Jada was told. I really don't know.

Either way, he and Jada Pinkett-Smith will both survive more than well enough. Their careers will take care of them to the end of their days, and their descendants. This, honestly, doesn't matter. It doesn't even seem to matter to Chris Rock, the cops wanted to arrest Smith but he told them to let it pass.

I don't see a lot having happened to him even if he were arrested. He walked up and slapped someone who, very arguably, was provoking him. What, a night in jail and money that wouldn't even put a dent in his coffers? I'm over it all, personally, just as I was over the Oscars ages ago. It's a gossip-filled drama fest.

[left-of-center2012]

47. "an inordinate amount of humor"

It was one sentence.

[Akoto]

48. Not just from him, overall that evening, as I heard. Perhaps wrongly.

As I said, I don't watch.

[tirebiter]

14. He'll still make movies. He's good at it. He understands the business

With a career that can’t be swept away by one event. Nor should it be.

[LenaBaby61]

20. After all ...

Rapist Roman Polaski was nominated and WON an Oscar.

Which is why I don't take these "Oscar" folks seriously. I don't support either Smith nor Rock by the way. But if Roman Polaski can be awarded an Oscar and win (Why didn't these "outraged" Oscar folks kick him out of the Academy so he couldn't win an Oscar in the first place?).

Polaski's a rapist, yet he won an Oscar.

All this outrage. All of this Oscar hypocrisy

[noiretextatique]

27. 1973 incident with John Wayne and Clint Eastwood

Last edited Fri Apr 22, 2022, 12:02 PM - Edit history (1)

Wayne had to be restrained by six security guards as he tried to attack the Native American woman who declined the award for Marlon Brando. Clint Eastwood mocked her on stage, I don't recall any calls for action against either of them. Obligatory condemnation of Smith's actions.

[LenaBaby61]

44. Now that you mention it ....

I remember that as well and John Wayne was a RACIST piece of trash as well.

But you know, there is a HUGE difference between Wayne, Polaski and Eastwood and Smith.

Wonder what that 'difference' is

[Bengus81]

56. And WWII draft dodger

[LenaBaby61]

57. THIS 👆🏻👆🏻👆🏻

[SoFlaBro]

21. Quitter, quitter down the shitter.

n/t

[eShirl]

24. Is he getting therapy

or just doing Scientology engram shit

[OverBurn]

30. Was big Will Smith fan, don't care if he ever makes another now.

Looking forward to a new Chris Rock stand-up movie though. The guy handled the slap like a boss.

[padah513]

34. Really?

Oh well... welcome to DU.

[ificandream]

35. The L.A. police need to quit beating around the bush and charge him.

Whether Chris Rock presses charges or not, Smith should be charged with assault. The proof (the video) is there. The witnesses (millions of people) are there. This whole incident proves the L.A. cops haven't learned anything from the OJ episode. They tiptoed around OJ and it ended up costing them his conviction. They should not delay here.

[onenote]

36. Not going to happen

First time offender. No serious injury (indeed, Rock isn't claiming to have suffered any physical injury). Heat of the moment. Not a flight risk.

Its a misdemeanor. Maximum penalty is six months in jail and/or a $2000 fine. The most he'd get under the circumstances is a suspended sentence and probation.

The prosecutors aren't to spend the time and resources to prosecute such a case.

[cab67]

40. all this...

...and Smith could argue he was provoked.

I'm not saying, at all, this justifies what Smith did. But it might be taken into account when decisions to charge him are being discussed.

[3Hotdogs]

37. To me, the essence of the episode was Smith's action, back in his seat.

That was rage and intimidation.

[Layzeebeaver]

38. still kept his Oscar

he'll retire for 10 years and then jump back in.

[Emile]

41. So will this stop him from starring in new movies?

[onenote]

42. No.

[LudwigPastorius]

43. Xenu is pleased.

[extvbroadcaster]

49. Smith ruined the evening

Smith ruined the evening. And there is no way he would have tried such a thing with someone way bigger like the Rock. Instead, Smith came across like a street level punk. He makes millions and has been in Hollywood for years. And he can't take a joke about his wife? He revealed himself to be a rotten person.

[Skittles]

51. he has been rotten for some time

https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/celebrity/article/3172156/5-times-will-smith-lost-his-cool-and-got-trouble-chris

[LiveToLurk]

50. It's about all he can do for damage control now:

I gotta think he feels pretty embarrassed every time that clip comes up. It was his biggest day in his career and he totally blew it. Should have just had a talk with Chris Rock backstage afterwards and made his feelings known then.
Chris Rock will now have a field day with comedy bits that will go on forever. "Remember when I was bitch slapped by Will Smith......" Can't see WS living this thing down and having his career go forward as usual.

[Demovictory9]

59. look at Mel Gibson...what's worse? Slapping someone or having a racist rage fest recording played

to the public? Mel lost his sheen but went on to make movies, no one mentions that racist rage fest anymore

[twodogsbarking]

55. Ego can make you do crazy thangs.

[tavernier]

58. Chris wasn't injured and no one is getting dragged to jail.

After all the smoke clears, what bothers me most is that it was a purely classless act and there are many folks out there who are delighted to see a black man appear in an uncivilized manner in front of a audience of millions. If for no other reason, Mr. Smith should have given that some thought. While the Ketanji Jacksons of this world show us all up with their brilliance and depth of character, WS devours the headlines by acting like an ass.