Smith quits Oscars Academy as Grammys bans West over abusive messages

WILL Smith has quit the Oscars Academy after slapping comedian Chris Rock on stage during last Sunday’s ceremony.

The Bad Boys actor, 53, described his actions as “shocking, painful and inexcusable” in a letter to the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.

Smith told the Academy he would accept “any additional consequences” from its governing board, which is due to meet later this month.

This could include him losing the Best Actor Oscar he was awarded for his role in King Richard less than an hour after hitting Rock, 57, for a joke about wife Jada Pinkett Smith’s alopecia.

But a senior studio production boss last night said: “That would be unprecedented and a step too far given how contrite he genuinely appears to be.”

In a statement released yesterday, Smith said: “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. 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.”

The actor added he is now “committed to doing the work to ensure that I never again allow violence to overtake reason”.

Meanwhile, the producers of tonight’s Grammys awards have banned rap icon Kanyewest from performing. It follows his string of “threatening and abusive” messages to ex Kim Kardashian and her boyfriend, comedy actor Pete Davidson.

The awards will pay tribute to Foo Fighters drummertaylor Hawkins, 50, who died on March 25 from a suspected drug overdose in Colombia. He was due to perform at the Lasvegas ceremony, where Foo Fighters are up for three awards.