Will Smith’s slap in the face to Chris Rock at the Oscars last Sunday (March 27) is still the focus of public interest. After it finally emerged that Smith was to be expelled from the event immediately after the act and opposed this expulsion, further details have now emerged: the police are said to have already been on site.
Chris Rock had a de-escalating effect
Specifically, the police were even willing to arrest Smith directly, according to Oscar producer Will Packer. In an interview for ABC News, he said law enforcement would have taken immediate action had not Chris Rock vehemently refused to report his assailant.
Speaking of the behind-the-scenes conversations between Rock and the police, Packer said, “They laid the options on the table, and as they talked, Chris firmly dismissed all the possibilities. He said, “No, I’m fine.” And, “No, no, no.” The comedian’s denial reportedly went so far that Packer himself intervened to say, “Rock, let them finish. Smith narrowly avoided arrest.
Consequences for Will Smith are still unclear
The producer claims he didn’t speak to Will Smith that night. It is still unclear who spoke to the actor personally after the fact: the circumstances under which the sacking should be imposed on him are not clear. What is certain, however, is that the Academy has launched an investigation against Smith that could have serious consequences for him.
The slap came after Chris Rock, while hosting the Oscars, joked about the shaved head of Jada Pinkett Smith – Will Smith’s wife. He probably didn’t know that this was not a fashion statement, but that an autoimmune disease caused Pinkett Smith’s hair loss. Husband Will Smith then stormed onto the stage and vented his anger.
Chris Rock remains silent
Smith delivered an official apology to the Academy and guests about half an hour later. Chris Rock was a long time coming: only a day later did the 53-year-old post an apology statement on Instagram. Rock initially made himself scarce, speaking up for the first time on Wednesday (March 30) after the attack that he had to “do the whole thing.” [noch] process!” it said vaguely. Two days after the chaotic Oscar night, the stand-up comedian had sold more than 25 times as many tickets for his upcoming shows as in the previous month.