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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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...
Jim Carrey clarifies comment Will Smith ‘should have been’ arrested over slap
Jim Carrey has explained his earlier comments in which he said that Will Smith “should have been” arrested for slapping Chris Rock at the Oscars.
One of the many celebrities that have commented on the altercation, Carrey said he would have sued Smith for “$200m (£153m)” had he been Rock, adding that the King Richard star “should have been” arrested for hitting the comedian.
In a later interview with Associated Press, Carrey clarified his comments.
“The fact is that licence is being given to people to act out violently when they don’t like what they hear. And it just shouldn’t be.”
Read the full report by Annabel Nugent here:
Jim Carrey says Jada Pinkett Smith is ‘a tough girl’ who ‘can defend herself’
‘Licence is being given to people to act out violently when they don’t like what they hear’
New footage from Oscars shows Andrew Garfield appearing to mimic Will Smith’s Oscars slap
New video footage of Andrew Garfield appearing to mimic Will Smith hitting Chris Rock at the Oscars live ceremony has been shared online.
In the 18-second YouTube video, Garfield walks up to a group of people and appears to mouth the words: “What the f*** are you doing?”, seemingly copying Smith’s outburst.
Garfield, who was nominated alongside Smith in the Best Actor category, then mock-slaps his own hand before the video cuts out.
Andrew Garfield appears to mock Will Smith Oscars slap in new video
Garfield walks up to a group of people and mouths ‘what the f*** are you doing?’, seemingly copying Smith’s outburst in the video
Video of Jim Carrey forcibly kissing Alicia Silverstone resurfaces after actor criticises Will Smith
Jim Carrey is being called out for “hypocrisy” after saying that Will Smith “should have been” arrested for hitting Chris Rock at the Oscars.
Since Carrey’s comments, a video showing the actor accepting an award at the MTV Movie Awards in June 1997 has circulated on Twitter.
It shows Carrey gracing the stage after winning for The Cable Guy, and forcibly kissing an uncomfortable Alicia Silverstone, who was presenting the award, on the lips. Carrey was 35 at the time, while Silverstone was 20.
Inappropriate Jim Carrey video resurfaces after actor criticises Will Smith for slap
‘Clueless’ star Silverstone was 20 at the time
Chris Rock was never asked if he wanted Will Smith removed from the Oscars, according to sources
On Friday (1 April), Oscars producer Will Packer told Good Morning America that Will Smith was not removed from the ceremony because Chris Rock did not want him to be.
Reliable sources, however, have since told Deadline that this is not the case.
Sources told the publication that Packer “is conflating this from a conversation that happened after Smith slapped him onstage, where Rock told Packer he did not want to press charges”.
If Rock had chosen to press charges, LAPD would have removed Smith from the Dolby Theatre venue and arrested him.
FCC only received 66 complaints from approximately 15 million viewers over Will Smith’s Oscars slap
Although it was seen by around 15 million people in the US, the Federal Communications Commission only received 66 complaints over Will Smith slapping Chris Rock at the Oscars.
One of the complaints obtained by TMZ said: “Will Smith physically and verbally assaulted Chris Rock in front of the world on national TV at the Oscars tonight.
“It was so bad the words Will was yelling at Chris were blocked out from the public’s hearing. Will should be banned from further Oscars and should be arrested for assault which we all saw. There should be no allowance for privilege for such violence which would be apparent to all.”
Academy may take disciplinary action against Will Smith at the next board meeting on 18 April
Will Smith has been given the required minimum 15 days notice of a vote regarding his violations and sanctions.
At the next board meeting on 18 April, the Academy may take any disciplinary action, which may include suspension, expulsion, or other sanctions permitted by the Bylaws and Standards of Conduct.
According to Deadline, the King Richard star has the opportunity to provide a written response.
The actor reportedly had a “six-minute” Zoom call earlier this week in order to apologise to Oscar bosses for a second time.
Will Smith resigns from Motion Picture Academy after Oscars slap
Will Smith has resigned from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, following the controversy after the King Richard star slapped comedian Chris Rock during the Oscars last week, Variety reports.
“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,” Mr 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.”
The Academy was considering disciplining Mr Smith for the incident.
Will Smith resigns from Academy over Chris Rock slap at Oscars
Will Smith has resigned from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences in the wake of the incident where he slapped comedian Chris Rock onstage at the Oscars.
In a statement, Smith called his actions “shocking, painful and inexcusable”.
The Independent’s Kevin E G Perry is following all the latest details from Los Angeles.
ICYMI: Will Smith ‘made second apology’ during six-minute Zoom call with Oscar bosses
Will Smith’s resignation from the Academy isn’t his first form of apology for slapping Chris Rock at last week’s Oscar’s ceremony.
He reportedly had a face-to-face with officials from the film group right after the incident took place.
Catch up on the context.
Maanya Sachdeva had the story for The Independent.
What Will Smith said during a call with Oscars bosses after hitting Chris Rock
Board members criticised Academy over ‘lack of transparency’ in how it has been dealing with fallout from onstage altercation
Resignation won’t end discipline process against Will Smith, Oscars bosses say
Will Smith’s freshly announced resignation from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences won’t end the disciplinary review process the group began after the King Richard actor slapped Chris Rock at the Oscars.
“We will continue to move forward with our disciplinary proceedings against Mr Smith for violations of the Academy’s Standards of Conduct, in advance of our next scheduled board meeting on April 1,” Academy president David Rubin said in a statement.
Here’s our story on what that process has looked like so far.
Emergency meeting called as Oscars look into Will Smith ‘consequences’
An investigation into Will Smith’s Chris Rock hitting incident is now open
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