Musings From Abroad

Will Smith resigns from Academy over Oscar slap

Published

3 years ago

April 2, 2022

Veteran US actor Will Smith has voluntarily resigned from the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts & Sciences, after the embarrassment he caused by slapping comedian and show host, Chris Rock, on stage during the Oscars on Sunday, March 27.

Announcing his decision in a statement by his publicist on Friday, Smith said:

“I am resigning from membership in the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, and will accept any further consequences the Board deems appropriate.

“My actions at the 94th Academy Awards presentation were shocking, painful, and inexcusable.

“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.”

Smith had sensationally stormed the stage to slap Rock over a joke the comedian made about his wife, Jada Pinkett Smith’s shaved head which is a result of an hair-loss condition known as alopecia.

Smith would go on to win the best actor award for his role in the Ministry “King Richard,” where he played the father of tennis stars Venus and Serena Williams.

Shortly after Smith’s statement, the Academy said it has accepted the resignation and would “continue to move forward” with disciplinary proceedings against the actor.

David Rubin, President, Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, said in a statement Friday that the organization has received and accepted Smith’s “immediate resignation.”

“We will continue to move forward with our disciplinary proceedings against Mr. Smith for violations of the Academy’s Standards of Conduct, in advance of our next scheduled board meeting on April 18,” Rubin added.

Such disciplinary proceedings could include stripping Smith of the Oscar he won although that seems unlikely, but he would definitely be denied future appearance at Academy Awards ceremonies.

According to the regulations guiding the Academy, disciplinary actions include suspension or expulsion, along with “other sanctions permitted by the Bylaws and Standards of Conduct.”

Only a handful of actors have been expelled from the Academy in the past including Harvey Weinstein, Bill Cosby and Roman Polanski, but it was not clear if the same fate was about to befall Smith before he threw in the towel.

But with Smith willingly resigning from the organization of movie stars, directors and producers, he will no longer be able to vote on Oscar-nominated movies and performances each year but he works will still be eligible for future Oscars consideration and nominations.

Related Topics:Chris Rock Featured Oscars Will Smith

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Musings From Abroad

Swiss company Mercuria partners Zambia’s IDC in new metals trading firm

Published

2 days ago

December 21, 2024

Ifeoluwa Dada

According to a statement released by Swiss commodities trader, Mercuria, on Thursday, it has established a metals trading arm with Zambia, the second-largest producer of copper in Africa.

The trading unit is jointly owned by Mercuria and an arm of Zambia’s Industrial Development Company (IDC), and its purpose is to allow Zambia to engage directly in the minerals trading market.

The joint venture “envisages the establishment of a vehicle to market and trade Zambian copper by mutual leverage,” according to a statement from Cornwell Muleya, the CEO of IDC.

The southern African nation wants to increase copper output to roughly 3 million metric tonnes within the next ten years, and in 2023, it produced roughly 698,000 tonnes of copper, down from 763,000 metric tonnes the year before.

In June, the Zambian government announced that it would establish a minerals trading unit.

Investors including First Quantum Minerals and Barrick Gold are ramping up production, with output set to receive a further boost once Vedanta Resources’ Konkola Copper Mines restart activity.

“Our joint venture with IDC marks a significant milestone for Zambia as it positions itself more strategically in the global minerals market,” Kostas Bintas, Mercuria’s global head of metals and minerals, said in the statement.

Musings From Abroad

Blinken to reveal UN Sudan funding additions

Published

3 days ago

December 20, 2024

Ifeoluwa Dada

Additional financing for humanitarian aid to Sudan and initiatives to strengthen civil society in the nation, where a conflict has killed tens of thousands of people and displaced millions, will be announced by U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken at the United Nations on Thursday.

Blinken will make many announcements when he leads a UN Security Council meeting on Sudan on Thursday, which will centre on humanitarian aid and civilian protection, Deputy U.S. Representative to the UN Ned Price told reporters on Wednesday.

According to Price, the announcements would include more money for humanitarian help, initiatives to strengthen civil society, and the return of democracy.

“Sudan, unfortunately, has risked becoming a forgotten conflict,” Price said.

“So part of the reason the secretary … opted to convene a signature event on this very topic is to make sure it remains in the spotlight,” Price said.

For almost 18 months, the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces and Sudan’s army have been engaged in combat, resulting in a severe humanitarian crisis that has forced over 12 million people from their homes and made it difficult for U.N. organisations to provide aid.

A power struggle between the RSF and the Sudanese Armed Forces preceded a planned shift to civilian administration, which sparked the conflict in April 2023.

Although the army declined to join this year’s U.S.-mediated peace negotiations in Geneva, the warring parties did pledge to increase assistance access, which prevented any movement towards a ceasefire.

Price stated that before President Joe Biden’s term ends next month, the United States would keep collaborating with allies to enhance humanitarian access in Sudan and eventually end hostilities.

“We are going to leave nothing on the field in our efforts to work with allies, with partners, with the Sudanese stakeholders themselves, on the issues that matter most – humanitarian access, the provision of humanitarian assistance, ultimately, the process by which we can work to get to a cessation of hostilities, which is most urgently needed,” he said.