The Academy Moves Up Will Smith's Disciplinary Hearing To This Friday

It seems everyone is tired of the Will Smith drama, including the Academy.

On Wednesday night, The Hollywood Reporter announced that the Academy Board of Governors had moved up the date of Smith’s disciplinary hearing from April 18 to tomorrow, Friday, April 8.

On March 27, Will Smith made Oscar history when he won his first-ever Best Actor Oscar. However, it’s what happened less than an hour before that event that has had people talking. At the 94th annual Academy Awards, Smith stormed the stage and slapped Chris Rock after he made a joke about Jada Pinkett Smith’s hair loss condition, known as alopecia. After he slapped him, the “King Richard” actor took his seat and yelled, “Keep my wife’s name out of your f---ing mouth” twice.

There has been a great deal of controversy over what happened that night, with producer Will Packer seemingly alleging that Chris Rock did not want Will Smith to be escorted out of the Oscars to sources for Chris Rock denying that claim. Rock’s two brothers – Troy and Kenny – have also been pretty vocal about the infamous slap and have insinuated that Smith has not reached out to the family to apologize.

Although the meeting to discuss “possible sanctions” for Will Smith was originally scheduled for April 18, it has since been moved up to Friday, April 8.

A letter, signed by Academy president David Rubin, stated, “The April 18 date was set in accordance with California law and our Standards of Conduct because our agenda included possible suspension or expulsion of Mr. Smith from membership.”

He added, “We were required to provide Mr. Smith notice 15 days prior to the board meeting at which such action might be taken, and also give him the opportunity to provide the board a written statement no less than five days prior to that meeting.”

On April 1, Will Smith resigned from the Academy, calling his actions “shocking, painful, and inexcusable.”

“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,” Smith said.

“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,” he continued. “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.”

Shortly after, Rubin expressed a statement saying that “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.”

Following his resignation, Rubin also stated that “suspension or expulsion are no longer a possibility and the legally prescribed timeline no longer applies. It is in the best interest of all involved for this to be handled in a timely fashion.”

Smith’s resignation means that he can no longer vote at the Academy Awards but he can still be nominated for an Oscar and attend future ceremonies. It also looks as though he will be allowed to keep his Best Actor Oscar. Any further disciplinary measures will be decided at Friday's Board of Governors meeting.

Variety published a full version of Rubin’s letter, which can be read below:

“Dear Fellow Governors,

I am calling a board meeting for this Friday morning, April 8, at 9:00 am PT, rather than the previously scheduled April 18 meeting, to address possible sanctions for Will Smith in response to his actions during the Oscars broadcast on March 27.

The April 18 date was set in accordance with California law and our Standards of Conduct because our agenda included possible suspension or expulsion of Mr. Smith from membership.  We were required to provide Mr. Smith notice 15 days prior to the board meeting at which such action might be taken, and also give him the opportunity to provide the board a written statement no less than five days prior to that meeting.

Following Mr. Smith’s resignation of his Academy membership on Friday, April 1, suspension or expulsion are no longer a possibility and the legally prescribed timetable no longer applies.

It is in the best interest of all involved for this to be handled in a timely fashion.

Thank you for arranging to assemble on Friday morning at 9:00 am PT.  Zoom details will follow soon.

David”