Will Smith is resigning from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences after slapping Chris Rock at the #Oscars. bit.ly/3qWnKbI
The resignation comes as the actor is embroiled in the biggest crisis of his career and as the organization behind the Academy Awards has faltered in its attempts to deal with the fallout from the violent altercation. bit.ly/3qWnKbI
Smith charged the stage during the broadcast after Rock made a joke about the actor’s wife, Jada Pinkett Smith, which apparently enraged Smith. bit.ly/3qWnKbI
The Academy later said it asked Smith to leave the ceremony and he refused. However, sources tell Variety that the organization’s leaders never formally requested he be ejected and producer Will Packer urged him to stay. bit.ly/3qWnKbI
During an appearance on GMA on Friday, Packer said that he said Smith should stay at the request of Rock — something Rock’s camp has denied. bit.ly/3qWnKbI
It’s a very tangled narrative about what exactly went down behind-the-scenes. What is certain is that Smith ended up remaining at the Dolby Theatre, where he went on to win best actor for his performance in “King Richard.” bit.ly/3qWnKbI
Smith's speech and his decision to attend the Vanity Fair party following the awards has drawn sharp rebukes. bit.ly/3qWnKbI
Singer-songwriter-guitarist David Crosby, a founding member of two popular and enormously influential ’60s rock units, the Byrds and Crosby, Stills & Nash (later Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young), has died. He was 81 years old. bit.ly/3IZEj02
His wife released a statement to Variety, saying, "Although he is no longer here with us, his humanity and kind soul will continue to guide and inspire us. His legacy will continue to live on through his legendary music." bit.ly/3IZEj02
With bandmates Roger McGuinn, Gene Clark, Chris Hillman and Michael Clarke, Crosby set down the template for ’60s L.A. folk-rock in the Byrds during his stormy 1964-67 tenure in the group. bit.ly/3IZEj02
After two years of going virtual, Sundance Film Festival is back in person. Here are 13 films that could have buyers writing big checks: bit.ly/3CXksLo
DRIFT
Cynthia Erivo plays Jacqueline, a refugee who flees war-torn Liberia for the safety of a Greek island. Through her friendship with a tour-guide (Alia Shawkat), she begins to find a way to move past the violence and trauma she has endured. bit.ly/3CXksLo
CAT PERSON
Emilia Jones ("CODA") and Nicholas Braun ("Succession") team up for the film adaptation of the viral New Yorker short story that instigated fiery discussions about gender, sex and "first date" social pressures. bit.ly/3CXksLo
Austin Butler + Janelle Monáe
Cate Blanchett + Michelle Yeoh
Viola Davis + Jennifer Lawrence
Jamie Lee Curtis + Colin Farrell
Eddie Redmayne + Ana de Armas
From #TheDropout to #Euphoria to #Andor, our chief TV critics sifted through an avalanche of shows to pick their favorites from this year. See which ones they chose here: bit.ly/3Bh9ob4
"Abbott Elementary"
"Quinta Brunson’s ABC comedy about a hardworking, charismatic group of Philadelphia teachers was so immediately realized...that it feels like it’s been on for years rather than months." – Caroline Framke bit.ly/3Bh9ob4
"Barry"
"The drama and the jokes were operating at their highest level yet in this year’s third season. Barry’s journey into unrepentant inner darkness was played beautifully by Bill Hader, but the season belonged to Sarah Goldberg." – Daniel D'Addario bit.ly/3Bh9ob4
Kirstie Alley, a two-time Emmy-winning actor who rose to fame with her role as Rebecca Howe in the NBC comedy series “Cheers,” has died after a battle with cancer. She was 71. bit.ly/3UELFbr
Alley’s death was confirmed through her official social media presence, which shared a statement from her children. bit.ly/3UELFbr
“To all our friends, far and wide around the world… We are sad to inform you that our incredible, fierce and loving mother has passed away after a battle with cancer, only recently discovered,” reads the statement. bit.ly/3UELFbr