After beating presenter Chris Rock on stage at the Academy Awards last weekend, Will Smith in a statement on Friday said he had resigned from the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts & Sciences.
"I am resigning from the membership of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, and will welcome any other results the Board deems appropriate," Smith said in a statement sent to CNN by his spokesman.
Smith's statement concluded, "Change takes time and I am determined to do my job to ensure that I do not allow violence to escalate beyond reason.
After an embarrassing episode at the Oscars on Sunday night, the Academy announced Wednesday that it had "begun disciplinary action" against Smith.
David Rubin, President, Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, said in a statement Friday that the organization had received and accepted "Smith's immediate resignation."
"We will continue to follow our disciplinary action against Mr. Smith for violating the School Code of Conduct, prior to our next scheduled board meeting on April 18," added Rubin.
The School of Disciplinary action includes suspension or dismissal, as well as "other sanctions permitted by the By-Laws and Code of Conduct," the organization said.
Instead, Smith has voluntarily left the prestigious association of movie stars, directors and producers. With cancellation, Smith will no longer be able to vote for Oscar-nominated movies and movies each year. His work, however, will still be worthy of consideration and nomination for the upcoming Oscars.
His statement read in full:
"I have personally responded to the Academy's disciplinary notice, and I will fully accept all the consequences of my conduct. My actions at the 94th Academy Awards were shocking, painful, and irrational. The list of those I heard was long., trust School.
Friday's statement was Smith's most remorseful decision.
He first apologized to the Academy while talking about accepting a prominent actor on television, about 40 minutes after being slapped. But in that statement, he did not apologize to Rock.