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What are the chances that people will stop clamoring for Will Smith’s head…

now that he’s resigned from the Academy ?
[quote][b]Will Smith has resigned from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences following the immense backlash that came from his ill-fated slap of Chris Rock.

Smith was already facing expulsion from the Academy, after an inquiry was launched in regards to the incident on Sunday at the Academy Awards, which saw him walk on stage and slap Rock, who had just made a joke about his wife - Jada Pinkett Smith - and her alopecia diagnosis.

The statement, released Friday afternoon, read:

"I have directly responded to the Academy's disciplinary hearing notice, and I will fully accept any and all consequences for my conduct. My actions at the 94th Academy Awards presentation were shocking, painful, and inexcusable. 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.

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. I want to put the focus back on those who deserve attention for their achievements and allow the Academy to get back to the incredible work it does to support creativity and artistry in film. So, I am resigning from membership in the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, and will accept any further consequences the Board deems appropriate. Change takes time and I am committed to doing the work to ensure that I never again allow violence to overtake reason."

The Academy confirmed the resignation moments after Smith's statement was released. David Rubin, the President of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, also issued release Friday afternoon that said:

"We have received and accepted Mr. Will Smith's immediate resignation from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. We will continue to move forward with our disciplinary proceedings against Mr. Smith for violations of the Academy's Standards of Conduct in advance of our next scheduled board meeting on April 18."

This move comes just days after the Academy announced that disciplinary hearings were underway, and that a vote on whether to suspend or expel Smith would happen in April. Previous members who faced expulsion from the Academy included Roman Polanski, Bill Cosby and Harvey Weinstein.

Smith issued a public apology to Rock Monday afternoon, stating that his behavior was "out of line."

Several investigations have been launched as a result of the altercation, and the Los Angeles Police Department even detailed that officers were backstage prepared to arrest Smith, though Rock denied pressing charges.

It was not immediately clear whether Smith would be able to keep his Oscar for Best Actor, which he just won for his role in "King Richard" at Sunday's awards ceremony. Neither Polanski nor Weinstein's Academy Awards were revoked following their expulsion.[/b][/quote]
DragonFruit · 61-69, M
To not allow him to keep his Academy Award would be wrong....especially when Polanski and Weinstein got to keep theirs.
The awards are given for performance in a motion picture, and IMO shouldn’t be revoked even if a heinous crime is committed by an Academy Award winner. Revoking an award would be effectively negating the votes of all the members who voted for the person to win an award.
Having his resignation accepted should also mean that he is no longer subject to such action. The fact that the action was not taken prior to his resignation should mean that the resignation is the end result.....just as he can no longer be expelled from the Academy, he should not have his Academy Award revoked.
@DragonFruit Exactly my feeling.
Zaphod42 · 46-50, M
I didn’t necessarily want his head, I just wanted him to use his powers for good…
Rutterman · 46-50, M
That's unfortunate. His behavior at the Acadamy Awards was unacceptable, but I don't think he should have felt the need to resign, either out of shame or because he thought it would be better than having the Academy expel him. He has already apologized, sincerely I believe, and that's enough, in my opinion. The chances of him pulling another stunt like that again are pretty slim. I really hope his Oscar isn't taken away. His conduct at the Awards ceremony has nothing to do with the artistic merit that earned him his Best Actor award.
fun4us2b · M
@Rutterman Good point - he earned that Oscar....like an artist that painted - the painting will not lose it's value...
@Rutterman It’s like I said to Cherny, the Academy would [b]not[/b] be able to justify taking away Smith’s Oscar after letting Roman Polanski and Harvey Weinstein keep theirs after kicking [b]them[/b] out.
Rutterman · 46-50, M
@bijouxbroussard There needs to be some consistency on this. If the horrible behavior of Weinstein and Polanski didn't justify revoking their Academy Awards, how can it be right to take away Will Smith's award for what he did? How can it be right to even consider doing this? I just hope those responsible for making the decision about it are smart enough to realize they're potentially inviting a huge backlash if they don't allow Smith to keep his Oscar.
Iwillwait · M
It's all so sad, and he will never be able to live this down.

I would like to clarify, Chris Rock made reference to a shaved head and a GI Jane sequel, no where in his joke did he like specific fun at someone's condition. He obviously was unaware of that. As the rest of planet. You look at Jada's head and see appears to have a very dense healthy head of hair with a great hairline. (I think that was just deflection)
SW-User
There are politicians who have done worse things 🙄
fun4us2b · M
@bijouxbroussard Yikes, don't put him in with them....

It was a definite assault - but not a heinous gross crime.
@SW-User Now if they took his Oscar away, especially after letting rapists Roman Polanski and Harvey Weinstein keep [b]theirs[/b], then there would be some big problems.
SW-User
@bijouxbroussard I believe so...
That's just sad he's such a good actor. I think this is enough he's really trying to change to the better but again yes some people did way more horrible things he shouldn't in any way be compared to them.
The lesson here is it's ok to admit it when we are wrong. His apology was a good touch.

We shouldn't lose faith in our idols just because they made one mistake I mean even Chris forgave him.
@PiecingBabyFaceTogether Keeping in mind that I don’t know either of them personally, although I like their work, both of them, I’ve always liked Will Smith the person better than I do Chris Rock. And that hasn’t changed. So I hope that things will get better for him.
@bijouxbroussard I like the way you think. Very balanced and fair 🤗 I only know Will I barley heard of Chris tbh but based on what I know he seems harmless.
Will Smith falls in the same category as Keanu Reeves to me I think they are both really kind in person.

People are never perfect anyway.
@PiecingBabyFaceTogether Thank you. I do get the same impression of Keanu. Yes, alas, humans are flawed.
Pfuzylogic · M
I personally blame the Academy for letting things get out of hand. Hurtful remarks by the comedians would have been encouraged except for the expanding territory that Ricky Gervais carved out in the Academy’s blatant desire for higher ratings. Well now they have them because of the poorly defined lines of what is refined culture. Play with pain and comedy and things like this happen.
SW-User
Resigning was the right thing to do
Faroutcat · 46-50, M
He is doing the right thing. He needs to go through some mental therapy and so do his wife and kids.
I hope he will return to making movies someday. But for now he needs to focus on himself and his family.
We so love to elevate people to the stratosphere - almost as much as we love gloating when they crash and burn.
@Mamapolo2016 Sad but true. That’s exactly what it is.
RogueBastard · 36-40, M
What a bullshit statement. That's clearly just something somebody else made up for him to say, so it's completely meaningless.
But the whole thing is stupid. At first, not knowing anything about Will Smith's wife or even that she existed until now, I thought she must have been through chemotherapy recently (I've never had cancer myself but I can imagine that being diagnosed with a life threatening illness and going through a shitty recovery that isn't even a cure like chemo and then having people joke about it would be extremely shit) so I could understand why they were upset... but no, she just wanted to shave her head. Which is fine, of course.. but then that begs the question: What was the issue with the G.I. Jane joke.
They don't have to like it but it doesn't warrant the reaction it got.
@RogueBastard That is a lie. I don't know who told you that, but she has alopecia. It's an immune disease that mostly strikes women of color, and causes hair loss. Very few women "just want to shave their heads", because there's a massive amount of societal pressure on women to have a full, beautiful head of hair.
RogueBastard · 36-40, M
@LordShadowfire Well, fuck. I guess I'm back to thinking that was a shitty joke. It probably could have been sorted out more maturely backstage or something but still, if I was married I wouldn't stand for someone making a joke like that one about my wife.
@RogueBastard I agree. He should have confronted Chris after he got off stage, not in front of the whole world. Now it makes Chris look like the victim.
Monday · F
This has all been blown completely out of proportion! He was defending his sick wife. If Smith has to be punished in this way so should Chris Rock.
Faroutcat · 46-50, M
@bijouxbroussard All three of them have been friends in the past. I honestly still believe that this was just a big misunderstanding.
@Faroutcat Even among friends it’s possible to go too far.
Faroutcat · 46-50, M
@bijouxbroussard That’s true. But Will has apologized and Chris refused to file charges. Seems like a misunderstanding to me.
bookerdana · M
I have long ago stopped caring for the rich and famous as Robin Leach used to call them..Johnny Depp ,Smith the whole kit and kaboodle,though Smith is hardly Weinstein.I don't call for his head ,I just don't care
@bookerdana But you saw all the posts here. People did care.
bookerdana · M
@bijouxbroussard Thats really the only reason I knew😄 Oh and a few Lines on Colbert..its how I know which celebrities died,too....let them worry ,idc
Madmonk · M
Made the Oscars interesting for the first time in my life. Will Smith needs a medal. But Chris is my boy for pootie tang. Best movie ever
ServantOfTheGoddess · 61-69, M
What does "membership in the Academy" even mean?
@ServantOfTheGoddess I honestly don’t know everything that it entails. 🤔
Dino11 · M
That just too darn bad.
Amylynne · 26-30, F
wow! kinda impressive
Jesus tap dancing Christ on a cracker, was it really that bad? Get over it, people.
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@uncalled4 My understanding was that the Academy was seriously considering expulsion. Resigning (hopefully) closes this incident. From that perspective, it was a wise thing to do.
uncalled4 · 56-60, M
@bijouxbroussard Then he effectively took the power away from the Academy after HE broke the rules.(?!) Whatever. It's a weasel move, but it ultimately affects little. As far as I know, the only thing he can't do is vote for an Oscar winner. This whole thing has been a terrible look for him.
@uncalled4 I dunno. Some people see it as him falling on his sword, an admirable thing, because he didn’t really [b]want[/b] to leave. But that’s the way things were headed.

 
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