LAPD Was ‘Prepared’ To Immediately Arrest Will Smith After Oscars Slap, Says Producer Will Packer

Topline

Los Angeles police officers were “prepared” to arrest Will Smith following his physical attack on comedian Chris Rock at Sunday’s Oscars ceremony, but Rock told police he did not want them to intervene, Oscars producer Will Packer said in excerpts from an interview scheduled to air in full Friday on Good Morning America.

Key Facts

LAPD officers said that Smith’s slapping of Rock was “battery” and indicated they were ready to “get him right now,” but Rock dismissed this course of action, saying that he was fine, Good Morning America quoted Packer as saying.

Rock was so quick to dismiss police officers’ suggestion of arresting Smith that Packer interjected, saying, “Rock, let them finish,” according to a quote from the Good Morning America interview published by Variety.

Following the incident, the LAPD announced that Rock had chosen not to file a police report or press charges, though the option would remain open to him if he changed his mind.

The interview excerpts published Thursday did not address dueling media accounts regarding Packer’s response to the incident and whether he had asked Smith not to leave.

Key Background

At Sunday’s awards ceremony, Smith struck Rock and shouted at him to “keep my wife’s name out your f***ing mouth” after the comedian delivered a joke referring to the shaved head of Smith’s wife Jada Pinkett Smith, who has alopecia, a condition that can cause hair loss. Smith stayed for the rest of the ceremony and accepted a best actor Oscar for his performance in the tennis biopic King Richard. Wednesday, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced it had launched a disciplinary review of Smith and claimed that Smith was asked to leave but refused. However, unnamed sources later told Deadline that Academy President David Rubin and CEO Dawn Hudson “suggested” via an intermediary that Smith leave, to which Smith responded that he wished to stay and apologize. Variety, also citing unnamed sources, confirmed that Smith was not formally asked to leave. One source told Variety that Packer urged Smith to stay until the conclusion of the event, while another source denied this. Monday, Packer tweeted, “Welp…I said it wouldn’t be boring #Oscars.” In response to criticism for this lighthearted remark, Packer added that the incident had been “a very painful moment” for him, but that Black people use laughter to deal with pain because “there has been so much of it.”

Tangent

Founder and operator of Atlanta-based WIll Packer Productions, Packer has produced 28 films and numerous TV series, miniseries and specials, which he says have collectively grossed over $1 billion worldwide. Packer’s credits range from the 2017 romcom Girls Trip, featuring Jada Pinkett Smith, which was lauded by Black film organizations, to History’s 2016 Roots miniseries, which garnered a Primetime Emmy nomination in the category of outstanding limited series, losing out to FX’s The People v. O. J. Simpson: American Crime Story. In a 2019 interview with Variety, Packer attributed his career success to identifying underserved audience demographics. Packer’s production team for Sunday’s Oscar ceremonies was the first all-Black team in the awards’ history.

What To Watch For

The Academy indicated in a statement that disciplinary action against Smith may take place at the next meeting of the organization’s board of governors, scheduled for April 18. Smith could face suspension, expulsion or other sanctions for his attack on Rock, which the Academy described as a “deeply shocking, traumatic event.” Expulsion from the Academy is principally a symbolic gesture—Academy membership isn’t required to win an Oscar or to attend the Oscars ceremony. However, expulsion would be a significant blemish on Smith’s career: the Academy has expelled only five members in its 94-year history, and has been willing to overlook criminal scandals like Mel Gibson’s 2006 DUI arrest. The Academy could also choose to take steps like banning Smith from future Oscars ceremonies and revoking his best actor Oscar.

Further Reading

“Will Smith Was Reportedly Not Explicitly Asked To Leave Oscars After Slapping Chris Rock” (Forbes)

“Will Smith Refused To Leave Oscars After Slapping Chris Rock—And Could Face Disciplinary Proceedings, Academy Says” (Forbes)