Oscar producer Will Packer said the LAPD was ready to arrest actor Will Smith on Sunday after attacking comedian Chris Rock on stage at the Oscars ceremony.
In Conversation With “Good Morning America,” which aired Friday morning, Packer told what happened after the shocking incident at the Academy Awards.
“They say, you know, drums is the word they used at the time,” Packer said from ABC.
“They said we would take him; We are ready. We are ready to accept it right away. You can click on charges. We can arrest him. They think about the options and before they can talk, Chris is reluctant to reject those options. He said, “No, I’m fine.” It’s like “No, no, no”.
Smith took to the stage for the Oscars and slapped Rock in the face Sunday night after comedian “GI Jane” joked about Smith’s wife, Jada Pinkett Smith, who shaved her head after battling the loss of hair. After returning to his seat, Smith shouted twice at Rock, “Don’t remove my wife’s name.”
After the awards ceremony, the LAPD issued a statement saying they knew of the incident, but Rock refused to file a police report.
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences condemned the violence and on Wednesday said disciplinary proceedings had been initiated against Smith for violating his standards of conduct. He said Smith was fired, but he refused. (Many wondered why Smith, who was nominated for the lead role, was given to remain in the audience after the onstage attack.)
However, reports on Thursday accused the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences of lying about Smith asking him to leave the theater. According to TMZ and Variety, citing unnamed sources, there was a dispute between academy officials over whether Smith would be removed and they never reached an agreement.
Smith later won the Leading Actor Award and gave an emotional speech in which he apologized to the academy and his fellow candidates and tried to justify his actions. He apologized to Rock in an Instagram post the next day.
Packer, who led the Oscars ’first all-black production team, said he didn’t speak directly to Smith about the Oscars.
Source: Huffpost
