[아시아타임즈=김지호 기자] Actor Will Smith, who slapped the host on the face at the Academy Awards, announced that he would eventually withdraw his Academy membership.
According to Yonhap News, citing AFP and Associated Press, Smith issued a statement on the afternoon of the 1st (local time) saying, “I intend to step down from my membership at the Academy, and I will accept any further action the board deems appropriate.”
Actor Will Smith (right) slaps actor and comedian Chris Rock during the 94th Oscars ceremony held at the Dolby Theater in Hollywood, USA on the 27th (local time) in Los Angeles, USA.
“My actions at the awards ceremony are shocking, painful and inexcusable,” he said.
“I have betrayed the trust of the Academy. I have taken away the opportunity for other nominees and winners to celebrate and celebrate,” he added.
This comes two days after the Academy Board of Directors met on the 30th of last month and began disciplinary proceedings against Smith. Smith slapped comedian Rock, who joked about his wife (Jada Pinkett Smith), who suffers from alopecia, at an awards ceremony on the 27th of last month.
Smith, who was seated in the front row of the awards ceremony at the time, continued to sit there even after the assault and received the Best Actor award.
Smith apologized to Rock a day later on Instagram, saying, “I crossed the line and made a mistake,” but critics did not subside at the unprecedented event that was broadcast live around the world.
The Actors and Broadcasters of America (SAG-AFTRA) also issued a statement saying “the Smith case is unacceptable”, and some Academy members have also demanded disciplinary action against Smith.
The academy states against abuse, harassment and discrimination in its member code of conduct. Violation of this may result in disciplinary action such as suspension of membership or expulsion.
Meanwhile, according to Yonhap News, Los Angeles (LA) police tried to arrest Smith at the scene, Archyde.com and Associated Press reported on the same day.
Producer Will Packer, who directed the Academy Awards, said in an interview with ABC’s ‘Good Morning America’, “The police said they were ready to arrest Will Smith, but they did not take action because Chris Rock refused to accuse him.” said.
Shortly after Smith’s sudden action, the American Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS), which hosts the Oscars, asked Smith to leave, but it was also known that he refused. At the time, Smith sat in the front row of the awards ceremony and won the Best Actor award for ‘King Richards’. Rock is said to have been discussing with police behind the scenes while Smith was present.
“Rock rejected the idea of arresting Smith,” Packer said.