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

[27 March 2022 14:13 · Isobel Lewis]

Now we all love a bit of Oscar trivia, but did you know that a Dundee United football player was also an Academy Award winner?

[27 March 2022 14:45 · Isobel Lewis]

A new category will be making an appearance at this year’s Oscars, in the form of the #FanFavourite online pole.

Every film released from 1 March to 31 December 2021 is eligible for votes, with fans able to vote up to 10 times a day for their favourite films.

The winning film will be announced on the night and with fans voting, it’s likely to be something a little different to the rest of the nominees.

Early reports suggested that Zack Snyder’s Army of the Dead and Amazon’s Cinderella starring Camila Cabello were in the lead, but we’ll have to wait and see!

[27 March 2022 15:20 · Isobel Lewis]

Jessica Chastain shares post of appreciation for her fellow Best Actress nominees

This year’s Best Actress category is looking to be one of the tightest competitions of the night, with no clear frontrunner.

Nobody knows this more than Jessica Chastain, who has shared a series of Instagram Stories heaping praise on her fellow nominees.

“Can we take a moment to appreciate these women I have the honour of being included with,” she wrote.

Chastain showed support for her fellow nominees (Jessica Chastain/Instagram)

“@NicoleKidman lovingly introduced by to a side of Lucy [Ball] I wasn’t aware existed,” she wrote of Kidman’s performance in Being the Ricardos.

She then described Parallel Mothers’ Penelope Cruz’s performance as “unPARALLELED”.

To The Lost Daughters’ Olivia Colman, she wrote: “Hi, I’m obsessed with you and your ginormous talent. This performance is everything.”

“Kristen Stewart shocked me with her nuanced and heartfelt performance,” she said of the actor’s turn as Princess Diana in Spencer.

Chastain is nominated for The Eyes of Tammy Faye.

[27 March 2022 15:45 · Isobel Lewis]

It’s been five years since the infamous mix-up that saw La La Land incorrectly announced as the winner of Best Picture rather than the real winner Moonlight.

Anyone else starting to feel really, really old?

[27 March 2022 16:15 · Isobel Lewis]

If The Power of the Dog wins for Best Director (as the bookies think it will), it’ll make Jane Campion only the third woman to win the prize.

She will follow Chloe Zhao, who last year took home the statue for her film Nomadland. Zhao was also the first non-white woman to be named Best Director.

Nomadland won for Best Picture as well, while its star Frances McDormand was given the prize for Best Actress.

Want a recap on last year’s winners? Check out the link below.

[27 March 2022 16:45 · Isobel Lewis]

Tonight’s ceremony will be taking place at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles.

The ceremony has been held there since 2002, when the Hollywood location was known as the Kodak Theatre.

However, last year’s Academy Awards were presented for the first time at Union Station in Downtown Los Angeles, utilising a mix of indoor and outdoor spaces due to the pandemic.

[27 March 2022 17:15 · Isobel Lewis]

The troublesome trio of Amy Schumer, Regina Hall and Wanda Sykes will be presenting tonight’s Academy Awards, joining a long line of hosts.

It’s been three years since the Oscars had a proper host, after Kevin Hart stepped down in 2019 following backlash to a series of homophobic tweets.

However, not all Oscar hosts are created equal – for every Billy Crystal, you have the car crash that was Anne Hathaway and James Franco.

Read below to see the very best and worst Oscars hosts of all time.

[27 March 2022 17:45 · Isobel Lewis]

This year’s Best Picture nominees are: CODA, Drive My Car, Dune, King Richard, Licorice Pizza, Nightmare Alley, The Power of the Dog andWest Side Story.

Which one of them will be joining this illustrious groups of former winners? You’ll have to wait and see...

[27 March 2022 18:15 · Isobel Lewis]

Tonight could also be the night that Kirsten Dunst wins her first Oscar.

Shockingly, theVirgin Suicides star has never even been nominated before, but stands in good stead after getting a nod for Best Supporting Actress for her role in The Power of the Dog.

Check out our interview with her below...

[27 March 2022 18:45 · Isobel Lewis]

We’re all now used to that trademark “hurry up” music when an actor’s speech goes on too long, but did you know that the longest Oscars speech of all time was a whopping four minutes long?

Greer Garson, who was named Best Actress for her role in Mrs Miniver, was responsible for the address, which you can find out more about at the link below.