Will Smith news - live: ‘Heartbroken’ actor’s resignation from the Academy accepted by organisation
Best Actor winner resigns from Motion Picture Academy, saying list of those harmed by Oscars slap is “long and includes Chris, his family, many of my dear friends and loved ones”
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Nearly a week after Will Smith slapped Chris Rock at the Oscars, Hollywood is still abuzz with activity, as celebrities weigh in on the incident, while a “formal review” of the incident began at the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.
Now they’ve got something new to talk about: the King Richard star has resigned from the Academy, which puts on the Oscars.
“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,” Smith said in a statement. “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.”
It’s the latest sign of friction between the Hollywood heavyweight and the film group.
Smith was reportedly asked to leave the Oscars after breaking the Academy’s code of conduct, but he refused.
Though Mr Rock has declined to press charges against Mr Smith, on Wednesday, during the sold-out Boston show of his Ego Death tour, Rock finally addressed the altercation and said he was “still processing.”
“I’m still processing what happened, so at some point I’ll talk about that s***,” the comedian also said on stage, adding, “It’ll be serious. It’ll be funny, but right now I’m going to tell some jokes.”
You can follow all the developments about the “slap that was heard around the world” in our live blog below...
Chris Rock ticket prices hiked after Will Smith Oscars slap - reports
Ticket-selling site TickPick announced it had sold more Chris Rock tickets “overnight than we did in the past month combined” after the comedian was slapped by Will Smith on stage at the Oscars on Sunday (27 March).
Rock had announced his new “Ego Death World Tour” last month on Instagram, promising his fans “all new material” that is both very “personal and funny”.
Ticket prices for Rock’s show were also hiked after the Oscars incident, according to media reports. Tickets for a table at the comedian’s forthcoming show in Boston’s Wilbur Theatre on Friday were up over £76, Newsweek reported.
Tom Murray has the full story:
Chris Rock tickets for live tour spike after Will Smith Oscars slap
Comedian is touring in the US and the UK for his Ego Death tour
LAPD right not to investigate Will Smith over Oscars slap – experts
Legal experts say the Los Angeles Police Department is right not to investigate Will Smith for hitting Chris Rock – especially since the comedian declined to press charges against Smith.
Criminal defence attorney Alan Jackson told the LA Times that the only charge which could be brought against Smith would be misdemeanour battery since Rock wasn’t injured and no weapons were used. However, Jackson continued, to be arrested on misdemeanour, the offence needs to “happen in front of the authorities”.
American law school professor Laurie Levenson told the paper that “not every bad act becomes a criminal case”.
“I don’t think anybody is sanctioning or anybody is saying what Will Smith did is appropriate,” she said.
Alec Baldwin compares Oscars to Jerry Springer Show over Will Smith slap
Alec Baldwin has compared this year’s Academy Awards to The Jerry Springer Show after Will Smith hit Chris Rock during the ceremony.
The actor, who currently faces multiple lawsuits over Rust cinematographer Halyna Hutchins’ death last year, came out in support of Rock on Twitter and Instagram on Monday.
“I’m not reading much about how, or even if, the producers attended to Chris. But I love you, Chris Rock,” Baldwin wrote.
“I’m sorry the Oscars turned into The Jerry Springer Show,” the 63-year-old actor continued, comparing the Oscars to the tabloid talk show hosted by British-American television personality Gerald Norman Springer.
Comedian Jeff Ross praises ‘class act’ Chris Rock over Will Smith slap
American comedian Jeff Ross has said Chris Rock’s restraint after the Will Smith incident at the 2022 Oscars was a “class act”.
Ross commented on the incident in a lengthy Instagram statement, writing that he “worships Chris Rock” and was moved to tears when he saw “Smith attack” Rock.
“I was watching my idol live out a comedian’s worst nightmare on live television,” Ross continued, referencing Smith hitting Rock over a joke he made about the actor’s wife Jada Pinkett Smith during the live Oscars ceremony.
“Rock should get a Nobel peace prize for keeping his hands down and not escalating the situation. Class act,” Ross added.
Peony Hirwani has the full report here:
Musical parody of the slap incident goes viral
Britain’s most opportunistic comedian Munya Chawawa has made a musical parody of the Will Smith/Chris Rock altercation, blending in references to Men in Black, The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air and “Gettin’ Jiggy Wit It”.
See the full story below...
Munya Chawawa’s musical parody of Will Smith’s Oscars slap goes viral
‘Now this is a story all about how I rocked Chris so hard,’ comedian Munya Chawawa raps in the video
Was Chris Rock’s Jada Pinkett Smith joke scripted?
ABC executive Robb Mills has said that the comedian ad-libbed the GI Jane joke that prompted Best Actor awardee Will Smith to walk up to the stage and hit Rock.
He added that the Oscars productions team, including director Glenn Weiss, realised something was wrong when Rock swore on live television.
Read the full report from Maanya Sachdeva here...
Chris Rock’s Oscars joke about Will Smith’s wife Jada not scripted, insider says
‘You started to realise this is real once Chris, who certainly knows the limits of broadcast standards, said, ‘Will Smith slapped the s*** out of me’
Screen Actors Guild condemns ‘unacceptable’ Will Smith Oscars slap
The Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA) has condemned “the incident involving Will Smith and Chris Rock” at the 94th Academy Awards, calling it “unacceptable”.
The union representing presenters and other performers who work on the Oscars in an online statement said: “Violence or physical abuse in the workplace is never appropriate and the [SAG-AFTRA] condemns any such conduct.”
The industry body also revealed it had contacted the Academy after Smith struck Rock onstage over a joke about the actor’s wife Jada Pinkett to ensure the Best Actor winner’s behaviour is “properly addressed”.
Alan Davies ‘sticks up’ for Chris Rock amid Oscars storm
Alan Davies has expressed solidarity with Chris Rock over the Oscars incident that has drawn outrage and shock from celebrities around the world.
The British comedian said he will “stick up for the comic” in an interview with BBC Breakfast, adding he didn’t think Rock intended to reference Jada Pinkett Smith’s medical condition onstage at the Academy Awards.
However, he added, Smith’s reaction was not ‘in any way reasonable’.
Read the full story here:
Alan Davies ‘sticks up’ for Chris Rock over ‘unreasonable’ Will Smith Oscars slap
‘I’m a fan of Chris Rock,’ Davies said in a new interview
Will Smith’s mum speaks out on his Chris Rock Oscars slap
Will Smith’s mum has said she was “surprised” upon seeing her son slap Chris Rock, adding that Smith is a “very even, people person” in a new interview.
“That’s the first time I’ve ever seen him go off. First time in his lifetime,” Caroline Smith told Philadelphia news station Action News, adding: “I’ve never seen him do that.”
The actor’s mother also revealed she spoke to Smith, who won the Best Actor Oscar on Sunday, the day after the dramatic ceremony and advised him to get some rest.
Annabel Nugent has the full story:
Will Smith’s mum speaks out over Chris Rock Oscars slap
Caroline Smith said she was ‘surprised’ by her son’s actions
Oscars producer calls Will Smith slap ‘very painful moment for me'
The producer of the 94th Academy Awards, Will Packer, has addressed the backlash to one of his tweets about the Will Smith slap, revealing that the altercation was “very painful” for him to watch.
Shortly after the dramatic ceremony was concluded, Packer, 47, tweeted: “Welp... I said it wouldn’t be boring #Oscars”
After social media users criticised the producer for “making jokes about an assault that happened during your show”, Packer shared his “transparent thoughts” about seeing Smith strike comedian Chris Rock onstage during the show’s live broadcast.
“Black people have a defiant spirit of laughter when it comes to dealing with pain because there has been so much of it,” he wrote on Twitter, addressing those that had objected to his original tweet.
“I don’t feel the need to elucidate that for you,” Packer continued, adding, “But I also don’t mind being transparent and say that this was a very painful moment for me. On many levels.”
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments