In a statement, Smith said he violated the trust of the Academy and denied his fellow actors who have been nominated for or won an Oscar the chance to celebrate their success.
The Academy is a professional organization that is committed to the art of cinema. Membership is exclusively by invitation of the board and is in principle valid for life. Smith risked being suspended or disbarred for his blow.
In his statement, Smith again expresses regret for his act. He also writes that he wants to “work to ensure that I will never again allow violence to triumph over reason.”
Smith hit Rock for making a joke about the hair of Smith’s wife, actress Jada Pinkett Smith. Pinkett Smith suffers from the hair disease alopecia. View the images here:
Now that he has canceled his membership, Smith can no longer vote for the Oscars. Also, he can no longer attend every event that the Academy organizes. According to The Washington Post, his decision will in principle not affect the Oscar he won last week for best male lead, unless the Academy decides to take it from him. Smith could also be nominated for an Oscar in the future.