Will Smith news - live: ‘Heartbroken’ actor’s resignation from the Academy accepted by organisation
Best Actor winner resigns from Motion Picture Academy, saying list of those harmed by Oscars slap is “long and includes Chris, his family, many of my dear friends and loved ones”
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Your support makes all the difference.Nearly a week after Will Smith slapped Chris Rock at the Oscars, Hollywood is still abuzz with activity, as celebrities weigh in on the incident, while a “formal review” of the incident began at the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.
Now they’ve got something new to talk about: the King Richard star has resigned from the Academy, which puts on the Oscars.
“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,” Smith said in a 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. I am heartbroken.”
It’s the latest sign of friction between the Hollywood heavyweight and the film group.
Smith was reportedly asked to leave the Oscars after breaking the Academy’s code of conduct, but he refused.
Though Mr Rock has declined to press charges against Mr Smith, on Wednesday, during the sold-out Boston show of his Ego Death tour, Rock finally addressed the altercation and said he was “still processing.”
“I’m still processing what happened, so at some point I’ll talk about that s***,” the comedian also said on stage, adding, “It’ll be serious. It’ll be funny, but right now I’m going to tell some jokes.”
You can follow all the developments about the “slap that was heard around the world” in our live blog below...
And the Oscar for Best Adapted Screenplay goes to... Coda!
Fifth place in the Twitter-determined poll is Tick, Tick... Boom!, fourth is Spider-Man: No Way Home, third is Johnny Depp’s Minimata, second place is Camila Cabello vehicle Cinderella and first place goes to... Zack Snyder’s Army of the Dead!
What an actual trainwreck. Let’s never do this again.
While Billie Eilish performs ‘No Time to Die’, here’s an answer to a question that’s been bothering many on Twitter: Is that really British comedian Joe Lycett near the front row?
There seems to be a bit of confusion about the Oscars Fan Favourite poll, and whether the winner has actually been announced yet. Or whether the nominees have just been announced in alphabetical order.
Or are we just haunted by its very existence?
Regina Hall and Wanda Sykes are giving out consolation prizes to non-winners. Hall’s giving out a DVD of a “never-been-seen movie”: The Last Duel. Poor The Last Duel.
Judi Dench gets an inspirational quote courtesy of Kim Kardashian. “Work harder,” Hall says. “That’s what we need you to do.”
“You gotta move that ass, Dench.”
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