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”
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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...
Best Hair and Makeup, by the way, has just gone to The Eyes of Tammy Faye. Expected! But questionable!
So here’s where we stand ahead of the actual ceremony beginning, with the eight categories announced off-camera...
Best Makeup and Hairstyling The Eyes of Tammy Faye
Best Production Design Dune
Best Film Editing Dune
Best Music (Original Score) Dune
Best Short Film (Live Action) The Long Goodbye
Best Short Film (Animated) The Windshield Wiper
Best Documentary (Short Subject) The Queen of Basketball
Best Sound Dune
So we’re a few minutes away from Oscar kick-off, and already the mood is a bit uncomfortable. Eight apparently lesser categories have been announced off-camera, and four of them won by one of the few big Oscar movies this year that tons of people have seen.
Fingers crossed this is an early hiccup for an otherwise seamless night.
As openings go, this is very impressive. A tennis court in shocking yellow-green, Beyoncé being Beyoncé.
And now we have DJ Khaled introducing hosts Amy Schumer, Regina Hall and Wanda Sykes. Sure!
“This year, the Academy got three women to host, because it’s cheaper than hiring one man,” Schumer jokes. “I am representing unbearable white women who call the cops when you’re getting too loud.”
This year’s snubs? “Lady Gaga and Jared Leto for ‘House of Random Accents’”
“What’s in the ‘In Memoriam’ category this year? The Golden Globes”
Wanda Sykes on The Power of the Dog: “I watched that movie three times, and I’m half way through it”
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