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...
Police investigate drone sighting near Will Smith’s LA home
Police personnel were called to investigate a drone sighting near Will Smith’s Los Angeles mansion two days after “The Slap.”
A spokesperson for the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Office told news media that police arrived at Smith’s house after someone reported a drone flying through the neighbourhood. However, they declined to comment on whether the complaint was lodged by a member of the Smith family or a separate resident.
“We just sent that unit over there to try to locate the drone and see if there was a paparazzi or what was going on,” Deputy Lizette Salcon told Page Six.
Peony Hirwani has the full story:
Police called to Will Smith’s LA mansion over drone sighting
The deputies weren’t able to locate the drone
Academy leadership promises ‘appropriate action’ against Will Smith
The Academy has promised to determine the “appropriate action” against Will Smith over the “slap heard around the world”.
In a letter to its members, which was obtained by Variety, Academy leadership has said they were “upset and outraged” that Smith’s actions eclipsed what was meant to be a “celebration of the many individuals in our community who did incredible work this past last year.”
Signed by president David Rubin and CEO Dawn Hudson, the letter read: “To be clear, we condemn Mr Smith’s actions that transpired Sunday night.”
Read the full story here:
‘Outraged’ Academy promises ‘appropriate action’ for Will Smith over Oscars slap
‘This must follow an official process that will take a few weeks,’ the Academy told its members
Chris Rock ‘had no idea’ Jada Pinkett Smith had alopecia before Oscars
While Chris Rock is yet to publicly acknowledge Will Smith’s apology for hitting him on live television, it has been said by a source, via TMZ , that Rock “had no idea” Jada Pinkett Smith has alopecia.
A source close to Rock has also claimed that the comedian and Smith are yet to speak to one another about the incident – despite rapper P Diddy’s earlier assertion that the two had made up after their shocking altercation.
Jacob Stolworthy has the full story:
Chris Rock ‘had no idea’ Jada Pinkett Smith had alopecia before the Oscars
Hollywood’s been left reeling after Smith hit comedian on stage at the ceremony
‘Can’t take a joke, stay home’ – Katherine Ryan on Will Smith
Katherine Ryan has opened up a discussion with her social media followers to speak about the shocking Oscars slap, with the comedian later sharing screenshots of their conversations to her Instagram stories.
In one screenshot, a social media user wrote to Ryan: “I don’t condone what he did, violence is never the answer but just because Chris is a ‘comedian’, it means Will has to sit and watch his wife be insulted? Chris shouldn’t have said it, Will shouldn’t have hit him.”
Ryan responded: “Yes, he has to sit and watch his wife be insulted, yes that’s the point of the celeb monologue.”
“Can’t take a joke, stay home,” she added.
You can read Annabel Nugent’s report here:
Katherine Ryan says Will Smith should have ‘stayed home’ if he ‘can’t take a joke’
Comedian is the latest star to condemn Smith’s actions
Oscars co-host Amy Schumer ‘still traumatised’ over slap
Oscars co-host Amy Schumer has said she is “still triggered and traumatised” over Will Smith slapping Chris Rock.
Schumer, who co-hosted the ceremony with Wanda Sykes and Regina Hall, also praised Rock for handling the altercation “like a pro”.
Writing that she was “proud of myself and my co-hosts”, Schumer told her Instagram followers on Wednesday (30 March) that she was “waiting for this sickening feeling to go away from what we all witnessed”.
Read the full story here:
Oscars co-host Amy Schumer ‘still traumatised’ after Will Smith slap
‘Waiting for this sickening feeling to go away from what we all witnessed,’ Schumer said
Bafta say they would have removed Will Smith ‘from the building'
Bafta have said that if Will Smith had slapped Chris Rock at their awards ceremony then he would have been removed from the building and not allowed to collect his award.
Sarah Putt, chair of Bafta’s television committee was asked what the organisation would do if something similar had happened at their awards. She replied: “They would be removed from the building. They would not be in the buildings, so they would not physically be able to collect their award.”
Emma Baehr, the executive director of awards and content for Bafta, also said: “We do not tolerate violence of any kind.”
James Corden: Will Smith ‘can’t take a joke’ and Chris Rock ‘can take a punch’
James Corden has said that Will Smith “can’t take a joke” after he slapped Chris Rock for making a joke about his wife, Jada Pinkett Smith.
The talk show host went on to praise how Rock handled the situation and said: “Seriously though, I applaud Chris Rock for recovering, keeping the show moving. It was an incredibly dignified response.”
Corden also joked: “Chris Rock can take a punch. A steel jaw. Unbelievable!”
Corden later parodied the incident later in the show by singing, “We don’t talk about Jada, no, no, no,” to the tune of the hit song “We Don’t Talk About Bruno” from Disney’s Oscar-winning Encanto.
Chris Rock’s brother comments on Will Smith Oscars slap
Chris Rock’s brother and fellow comedian Tony has commented on Will Smith slapping his elder sibling.
During a Q&A with fans on Twitter, one asked if he accepted Smith’s apology and he simply replied “no”.
Rock was also asked who “hits harder Will or Jada boyfriend” and he replied “Mama Rock”.
The comedian, who has starred in a show produced by Will Smith, was also asked to give his opinion on the incident at the Oscars and bluntly answered “foul”.
Rock also urged his followers to watch his brother’s documentary, Good Hair: “Be sure to watch Good Hair since the narrative is now changed to all my bro does is disrespect women of colour.”
Tim Allen says he would have ‘run ‘ from Will Smith
Tim Allen has said he would have “run” from Will Smith if confronted on stage like Chris Rock was at the Oscars.
Taking to Twitter to discuss Smith slapping the comedian after Rock joked about his wife’s bald appearance, Allen criticised the Men in Black star.
The Toy Story actor wrote: “It’s not ok to come up on stage and hit a dude cause you don’t like the humor. It’s not ok at a comedy club, concert hall or hosting some cheeseball award show.”
The one-time stand-up comedian also said: “Chris Rock is a stand up comedian and a standup guy who carried on. I think I would have run.”
Watch how Chris Rock reacted to Will Smith’s slap
New footage has emerged online showing Chris Rock in the moments after Will Smith jumped on stage to hit him at the Oscars.
The clip, which emerged on TikTok, shows a dazed looking Rock seeming unable to comprehend what’s just happened.
You can see the clip below...
Footage of Chris Rock in immediate aftermath of Will Smith Oscars slap shared online
Comedian looks dumbfounded in the minutes after Smith hit him on stage
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