Facing a possible suspension or expulsion of the Motion Picture Academy of Arts and Sciences after slapping Chris Rock at last Sunday's Academy Award, Will Smith announced his resignation from the organization this afternoon.
The Academy could still levy further discipline when it meets later this month. But I suspect they will accept Smith's resignation and let him keep his Oscar and part on amicable terms. Because if the Academy was to rescind Smith's Oscar there would be great demand for them to rescind the Oscars from the likes of Woody Allen, Roman Polanski and Harvey Weinstein, Kevin Spacey and others who have committed or have been accused of committing graver transgressions- not that there isn't now.
Had Smith opted not to resign, I would venture to guess that the Academy would have let him keep his Oscar and serve a one year suspension. I believe that punishment would have fit the crime. But now Smith has turned himself into a martyr for Twitter mobs who believe this discipline is motivated by racism even though the victim is also an African-American male. Alas some black lives matter more than others.
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