Later this month, the Academy of Movement Image Arts and Sciences’ Board of Governors is about to fulfill to vote on disciplinary actions for Will Smith over his habits ultimately weekend’s Oscars. Slapping Chris Rock over a joke about Jada Pinkett Smith’s hair wasn’t simply surprising and inappropriate, it might have additionally violated the Academy’s Requirements of Conduct. On the premise of that upcoming vote, the group may have moved to droop and even expel Smith from the Academy.

Earlier than they might, Smith has determined to resign from the group. In an announcement, Smith introduced that his habits on the Oscars was “surprising, painful, and inexcusable” and claimed he wished to “put the main target again on those that deserve consideration for his or her achievements” following per week wherein Smith’s actions — and the Academy’s inaction — together with an ongoing debate about whether or not Smith was requested to go away and refused, has overshadowed just about each story popping out of the Oscars, together with the stunning wins by smaller movies like Coda. 

Whereas Rock did briefly deal with the incident on the opening night time of his new standup tour, he’s largely averted commenting intimately on the slap. In accordance with Will Packer, the producer of the Oscars telecast, he went to Rock to see if he wished Smith faraway from the present, and Rock stated no. Packer claimed on Good Morning America that Rock was additionally “dismissive” of the concept of arresting Will Smith over the incident, saying he was “advantageous.”

After conferring with Rock, Packer advised GMA he “went to the Academy management that was on web site and I stated: ‘Chris Rock would not need [to kick Smith out] … Rock has made it clear that he doesn’t wish to make a nasty state of affairs worse.’”

Even with Smith’s resignation, the saga shouldn’t be over. The Academy board will nonetheless vote in regards to the incident later this month, and will decide extra penalties are warranted. (In his assertion, Smith additionally stated he would “settle for any additional penalties” they select to impose.)

Smith’s full assertion about his resignation from the group is under (through Deadline):

I’ve straight responded to the Academy’s disciplinary listening to discover, and I’ll totally settle for any and all penalties for my conduct. My actions on the 94th Academy Awards presentation had been surprising, painful, and inexcusable. The checklist of these I’ve damage is lengthy and contains Chris, his household, lots of my expensive associates and family members, all these in attendance, and world audiences at house. 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. I wish to put the main target again on those that deserve consideration for his or her achievements and permit the Academy to get again to the unimaginable work it does to help creativity and artistry in movie. 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 acceptable.