Will Smith resigns from the Academy

Will Smith has announced that he has resigned from the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences after slapping presenter Chris Rock on stage at the Academy Awards on Monday.

In a statement Smith says that he is resigning from membership in the Academy and will accept any further consequences the Board deems appropriate.

He says change takes time and he is committed to doing the work to ensure that he never again allows violence to overtake reason.

The Academy of Motion Pictures Arts & Sciences stated that a board meeting is slated to take place and the Academy may take any disciplinary action, which may include suspension, expulsion, or other sanctions permitted by the Bylaws and Standards of Conduct.

Smith initially apologized to the Academy during his televised acceptance speech for best actor, about forty minutes after the slap. But in that speech, he did not apologize to Rock.

He publicly apologized to Rock the next day via social media, but was much more critical of himself on Friday, calling his actions shocking, painful, and inexcusable.