Will Smith is not a member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences as he has resigned from the position after slapping stand-up Chris Rock. As per AP News, the actor stated that he would accept any repercussions from the professional honorary organization. In a recent statement, Smith said that he deprived other Oscar winners and nominees of their chance to acknowledge and be acknowledged for their work.
The President of The Academy, David Rubin, stated that the organization accepted the resignation of Smith and would continue discourse over possible disciplinary action against the actor.
On March 30, 2022, the Board of Governors of The Academy stated that the organization had offered Smith official notice that there would be a vote to determine possible consequences. The consequences may include expulsion, suspension, or any other sanction that the Bylaws and Standards of Conduct permit.
Smith walked up to the stage and slapped Rock after the latter made a tasteless remark about the wife of the actor, Jada Pinkett Smith. Understanding why the remark is tasteless requires knowing a thing or two about Hollywood. Rock referred to the film G.I. Jane in which actor Demi Moore plays a character without hair. In the remark, Rock compared the shaved head of Jada Pinkett Smith to that of Moore from the movie. It did not go down well with her husband, Smith, who then approached Rock and slapped Rock during the live telecast. Then, the actor uttered the F-word as he told Rock to stop talking about his wife.
Not everyone liked the speech that Smith delivered after he won the Academy Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role for King Richard. Why? Because Smith did not even mention Rock during the speech. However, the actor soon took to Instagram and apologized to Rock, The Academy, and every person who watched the telecast. At the same time, the Board of Governors of The Academy stated that it would vote on the future of Smith in April this year. On the other hand, the incident only helped to make Rock more popular as a stand-up comic than ever before.