Will Smith Has Resigned From The Academy and Two Of His Film Projects Put on Hold

It’s been a long week for Will Smith. The actor went to the 94th Annual Academy Awards, where he started off the evening looking pretty happy. He then heard a joke about his wife from fellow actor and comedian Chris Rock, which sent him reeling, and he approached the stage and hit Rock in the face. He returned to his seat and verbally made it clear that this was not a staged act, but that he was truly serious about what was transpiring.

The show attempted recovery, but the remainder of the show was completely eclipsed by this event. Even Smith’s first Oscar win for his role in King Richard was awkward and made people uncomfortable as they wondered what was happening behind the scenes.

As news was released in the coming days, it was revealed that the Academy actually did ask Smith to leave following his assault on Rock, but the actor refused. It was also reported that actors Denzel Washington and Tyler Perry pulled Will Smith aside after it all went down, and they tried to talk him down. Washington said he and Perry prayed with the actor. He told THR, “There but for the grace of God go any of us. Who are we to condemn? I don’t know all the ins and outs of the situation, but I know the only solution was prayer.”

And now, facing possible expulsion or suspension, Smith has instead resigned from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences.

In a statement, Smith called his actions “shocking, painful and inexcusable” and said that he will accept any additional consequences that the Academy’s Board of Governors deems appropriate.

Smith said:

“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. 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.”

Smith also acknowledged that his actions overshadowed other winners at the 94th Academy Awards, saying:

“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,” he stated, concluding with “change takes time and I am committed to doing the work to ensure that I never again allow violence to overtake reason.”

Variety reports that the Academy’s formal investigation and disciplinary process is still moving forward. It’s a bummer of a situation all the way around, but it has to be addressed for sure. Hopefully whatever conclusion they reach will be decided soon and everyone will be able to move on from this.

There are also two film projects that Smith was working on that have been put on hold. According to THR, Sony Pictures has paused the upcoming fourth Bad Boys film: "Bad Boys 4 had been in active development, and Smith received 40 pages of the script before the Oscars incident, according to our sources. Now there will be a ... pause ... in work as things play out, we've been told."

Netflix was also working on a new project with Will Smith titled Fast and Loose and according to the report, that film has now been shelved.