Actor Will Smith has resigned from Hollywood's Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences after he slapped presenter Chris Rock at the Oscars ceremony.
"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," Smith said in a statement.
"I am heartbroken. I want to put the focus back on those who deserve attention for their achievements.
"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."
Smith, 53, took to the Oscar's stage and struck Rock, 57, after the comedian made a joke about the actor's wife Jada Pinkett Smith.
While many in the audience initially presumed the incident to be a set-up, Smith then twice yelled at Rock, "Take my wife's name out of your f*cking mouth!"
Pinkett Smith has alopecia, a fact she has made public. Rock's joke highlighted that the actress is bald.
Smith took to his Instagram to post an apology following his altercation, saying "violence in all its forms is poisonous and destructive."
"I would like to publicly apologize to you, Chris. I was out of line and I was wrong," he said in part.
"Jokes at my expense are a part of the job, but a joke about Jada’s medical condition was too much for me to bear and I reacted emotionally."
Ms Pinkett-Smith also took to Instagram following the night, posting the quote "This is a season for healing and I’m here for it.”
The Academy previously said it had initiated disciplinary action against Smith for violations against the group’s standards of conduct.
Statement from Will Smith. He is "heartbroken" and says his actions were "shocking". And he's resigning from the Academy
— Matthew Garrahan (@MattGarrahan)
