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”

Will Smith punches Chris Rock at the Oscars

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...

Key Points

• The Academy accepts Will Smith’s ‘immediate resignation’ ahead of disciplinary hearing
• What does it mean to resign from The Academy?
• Chris Rock breaks silence on Will Smith Oscars slap
• Oscars viewers moved by Lady Gaga and Liza Minnelli’s tender moment
• The 6 biggest talking points from the Oscars ceremony

[28 March 2022 09:47 · Ellie Harrison]

Before the Will Smith/Chris Rock drama unfolded, the Oscars ceremony was already quite an eventful night.

Here’s a handful of stories from earlier on in the evening you might have missed

Rachel Zegler cracks joke about lack of invite while presenting award

Amy Schumer joke about Leonardo DiCaprio and his ‘girlfriends’ draws gasps

Coda star Troy Kotsur makes history as first deaf male actor to win an Academy Award

[28 March 2022 10:07 · Ellie Harrison]

Here’s Will Smith’s tearful acceptance speech once again

[28 March 2022 10:09 · Ellie Harrison]

Bernardine Evaristo, the author of the Booker Prize-winning novel Girl, Woman, Other, has tweeted about Will Smith slapping Chris Rock, condemning his choice to “resort to violence instead of utilising the power of words”

[28 March 2022 10:35 · Ellie Harrison]

Jimmy Kimmel has been weighing in on the Will Smith/Chris Rock saga

The late night host discussed the astonishing moment in a podcast that aired after the ceremony. Read what he had to say here...

[28 March 2022 11:00 · Ellie Harrison]

Where was Bob Saget in the ‘In Memoriam’ tributes?

Many Oscars viewers were upset that the Full House star, who died in January, didn’t get a mention

[28 March 2022 11:14 · Ellie Harrison]

Will Smith dances at Oscars after party

Will Smith was filmed dancing to his own hit “Gettin’ Jiggy Wit It” after hitting Chris Rock

[28 March 2022 11:40 · Ellie Harrison]

Here’s a recap of the biggest talking points of the night...

[28 March 2022 12:23 · Ellie Harrison]

Celebrities have been divided over The Slap. Here are Tiffany Haddish’s thoughts on the moment that has defined the 2022 Oscars

[28 March 2022 12:52 · Ellie Harrison]

There’s been a lot of discourse about Will Smith slapping Chris Rock at the Oscars – but what was the joke about Jada Pinkett Smith that upset him so much?

Read the full story here.

[28 March 2022 13:15 · Isobel Lewis]

Following CODA’s surprise win for Best Picture, the team earned a rather unexpected congratulations message from Emmanuel Macron.

The French president tweeted his delight at the film, a remake of the 2014 French movie La Famille Bélier, winning the biggest prize of the night.

“The film Coda, [an] adaptation of The Bélier family, won the Oscar for best film in Hollywood!” he wrote (translated by Deadline).

“A big congratulations to its producers, French, and to the teams who make it a success abroad. With this film, they look at disability and the experience of caregivers.”