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US actor Will Smith has resigned from the Oscars Academy after slapping comedian Chris Rock on stage during last Sunday's ceremony, BBC reported.

"My actions at the 94th Academy Awards presentation were shocking, painful, and inexcusable," his statement said.

The Academy said it accepted the resignation and would "continue to move forward" with disciplinary proceedings.

Smith slapped Rock over a joke about his wife's shaved head, a result of the hair-loss condition alopecia.

Less than an hour later, he was awarded the best actor award for his role in "King Richard", where he played the father of tennis stars Venus and Serena Williams.

"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," Smith said on Friday.

"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 said he wanted to "put the focus back on those who deserve attention for their achievements", according to BBC.

He concluded that "change takes time and I am committed to doing the work to ensure that I never again allow violence to overtake reason".

The Academy's president David Rubin said it had accepted Smith's resignation, but would continue its disciplinary proceedings. 

Rock addressed the episode during a stand-up show in Boston on Wednesday, saying he was "still kind of processing what happened".

The comedian, 57, who is currently starring in his "Ego Death" tour of the US, was greeted with a standing ovation by fans.

Rock had earlier decided not to press criminal charges against Smith, reports say.

Smith's wife, actress Jada Pinkett-Smith, broke her silence in a brief Instagram post on Wednesday, writing: "This is a season for healing and I'm here for it."

Resigning from the Academy is a big deal. Membership of this illustrious, invitation-only body is seen as a mark of achievement in itself, BBC reported.

Only a handful of people have ever been expelled: they include Harvey Weinstein, Bill Cosby and Roman Polanski - although it wasn't clear that the same fate awaited Will Smith. He would have found out in a few weeks. 

But the actor decided to seal his own fate, and forfeit his esteemed role as an Oscar voter - by quitting now. His mea culpa is strongly worded, but not the end of the story. 

The Academy says its disciplinary proceedings will continue, which leaves open the possibility that he could be stripped of the Oscar he won on Sunday - although that seems unlikely - or he could be denied future appearance at Academy Awards ceremonies. 

But Hollywood is a forgiving place, and Smith a hitherto well-liked character. Perhaps his next starring role will be opposite Oprah Winfrey, to explain all, according to BBC.

The Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences on Wednesday said that Will Smith was asked to leave Sunday’s Oscar ceremony after hitting Chris Rock but refused to do so, Associated Press reported.

The academy’s board of governors met Wednesday to initiate disciplinary proceedings against Smith for violations against the group’s standards of conduct. The academy said disciplinary action for Smith could include suspension, expulsion or other sanctions.

Many have focused on why Smith was allowed to remain seated front row in the Dolby Theatre after the incident. On Wednesday, the academy suggested that it attempted to remove the actor from the audience.

“Things unfolded in a way we could not have anticipated,” the academy said. “While we would like to clarify that Mr. Smith was asked to leave the ceremony and refused, we also recognize we could have handled the situation differently.”

A representative for the academy declined to give specifics on how it tried to removed Smith. After Smith struck Rock in response to a joke about his wife, Jada Pinkett Smith, several stars including Denzel Washington, Bradley Cooper and Tyler Perry spoke with the 53-year-old Smith.

The academy said Smith has the opportunity to defend himself in a written response before the board meets again on April 18. The film academy earlier condemned Smith’s onstage assault of Rock, but it used stronger language Wednesday, according to the Associated Press.

“Mr. Smith’s actions at the 94th Oscars were a deeply shocking, traumatic event to witness in-person and on television,” the academy said. “Mr. Rock, we apologize to you for what you experienced on our stage and thank you for your resilience in that moment. We also apologize to our nominees, guests and viewers for what transpired during what should have been a celebratory event.”

On Monday, Smith issued an apology to Rock, the academy and to viewers, saying “I was out of line and I was wrong.” 

Rock, who had yet to respond publicly to the incident, performed stand-up Wednesday night in Boston. He was greeted by a thunderous standing ovation.

“How was your weekend?” began Rock who then cautioned the crowd that he didn’t have a lot to say yet about the Oscars, according to audio posted by the Hollywood trade outlet Variety. “I’m still kind of processing what happened”

A representative for Smith didn’t immediately respond to messages Wednesday regarding the academy’s latest moves.

Only a very small number of academy members have ever been expelled, including Harvey Weinstein, Roman Polanski, Bill Cosby and the actor Carmine Caridi, who was kicked out for sharing awards screeners, Associated Press reported.

Whoopi Goldberg, a member of the academy’s board of governors, said Monday on “The View,” “We’re not going to take that Oscar from him.” (Even Oscars won by expelled members haven’t previously been ordered to be returned.) Goldberg added that “nobody is OK with what happened”

Others from Sunday’s telecast also began speaking out. Co-host Wanda Sykes told Ellen DeGeneres in an interview to air April 7 that she felt physically ill after Smith slapped Rock. When he returned to his seat, Smith twice shouted at Rock to “keep my wife’s name out your (expletive) mouth.” 

“I’m still a little traumatized by it,” said Sykes in a clip released Wednesday.

Within an hour, Smith was back on stage accepting the award for best actor for his performance in “King Richard.” Many in the Dolby Theatre gave him a standing ovation. 

“I was like, how gross is this? This is the wrong message. You assault somebody and you get escorted out the building and that’s it. But for them to let him continue, I thought it was gross,” Sykes said. “I wanted to be able to run out (on stage) after he won and say, ‘Uh, unfortunately, Will couldn’t be here tonight.’”

Will Smith has apologised to Chris Rock after he slapped him at the Oscars, saying his behaviour was "unacceptable and inexcusable", BBC reported.

"I would like to publicly apologise to you, Chris," he said in a statement. "I was out of line and I was wrong."

It comes after the Oscars film academy condemned Smith over the incident and announced a formal review.

The star slapped Rock in the face on stage after the comic made a joke about the actor's wife, Jada Pinkett Smith.

Rock had taken aim at Pinkett Smith's shaved head, a result of the hair-loss condition alopecia, according to BBC.

Moments later Smith picked up the first Oscar of his career for playing the father of tennis legends Venus and Serena Williams in King Richard.

"Violence in all of its forms is poisonous and destructive," Smith said in the statement, which was posted to Instagram.

"My behaviour at last night's Academy Awards was unacceptable and inexcusable. Jokes at my expense are a part of the job, but a joke about Jada's medical condition was too much for me to bear and I reacted emotionally."

Smith apologised directly to Rock, stating he was "out of line". He also apologised to the Academy and the Williams family.

"I deeply regret that my behaviour has stained what has been an otherwise gorgeous journey for all of us," he wrote, BBC reported.

Prior to Smith's apology, the organisation behind the Oscars said in a statement that it "condemns the actions" of Smith.

"We have officially started a formal review around the incident and will explore further action and consequences in accordance with our Bylaws, Standards of Conduct and California law," it said, according to BBC.