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LAPD Was Prepared to Arrest
Will Smith Says Oscars
Producer
Academy Awards producer Will Packer explains that the LAPD were fully
prepared to arrest Will Smith following the actor's assault on Chris Rock.
CREDITS TO: BY BRANDON LOUISPUBLISHED 44 MINUTES AGO

Producer of the 2022 Oscars ceremony said the Los Angeles Police

Department was prepared to arrest Will Smith for slapping Chris Rock live on
stage. The incident in question began when Rock, while presenting the award
for Best Documentary Feature, made a joke about Smith's wife Jada Pinkett-
Smith's head, saying that he couldn't to see her in G.I. Jane 2. Allegedly
unknown to Rock, Jada had shaved her head as a way to cope with her
recently diagnosed autoimmune condition known as alopecia. Although Rock's
joke initially received laughs throughout the audience, and from Smith
himself, the rapper-turned-actor marched on stage and slapped the comedian,
later shouting  "Keep my wife’s name out your f***ing mouth!" Smith later
received the award for Best Actor in a Leading Role for his performance as
Richard Williams in the sports drama, King Richard.

Immediately after the incident, celebrities all over the world reacted to the
assault. A few supported Smith's defense of his wife, but most appeared to
denounce his actions. Many wondered why there were no immediate steps
taken against the actor. Initially, there were reports that the Academy asked
Smith to leave the Dolby Theater, but that was later disputed with a new
account revealing that Academy President David Rubin and CEO Dawn
Hudson only spoke with Smith's representative. Questions also rose about
legal consequences against Smith, but it was reported that Rock quickly chose
not to press charges Sunday night after the Oscars ceremony.

RELATED:WILL
SMITH'S CHRIS ROCK SLAP
OVERSHADOWED OSCARS 2022'S BIGGEST
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In a recent interview on Good Morning America (via Deadline), Will Packer,
the producer of the 94th Academy Awards, revealed that he spoke to the
LAPD, and they were fully prepared to arrest Smith that night. Packer
explained that the police came to his office Sunday evening and spoke with
him and Rock about the incident. Although the LAPD previously issued an
official statement on the night of the Oscars stating that Rock did not want to
press charges against Smith, Packer's revelation is the first indication that the
comedian spoke directly to the police in person. Read what Packer had to say
below:

"They were saying, ‘This is battery.’ That was the word they used in that
moment. They said, ‘We will go get him. We are prepared. We will go get him
right now. You can press charges. We can arrest him. They were laying out
the options. And as they were talking, Chris was, he was being very
dismissive of those options. He was like, ‘No, I’m fine. He was like no, no, no.
And even to the point where I said, ‘Rock, let them finish. The LAPD officers
finish laying out what his options were. And they said, ‘Would you like us to
take any action? And he said no."

The original statement released by the LAPD explained that the authorities
were aware of the incident but were not continuing further with legal action
due to Rock's desire to not press any charges against the actor. But the police
department left the door open stating, "If the involved party desires a police
report at a later date, LAPD will be available to complete an investigative
report." Although the police did not arrest Smith that night, it was possible for
the LAPD to charge the actor with a misdemeanor due to the public nature of
the crime. However, this would probably amount to nothing more than a slap
on the wrist for Smith.
 Soon after the incident, Chris Rock began his nationwide comedy tour to a
sold-out crowd in Boston. Guests desperately wanted to hear what the
comedian had to say since he has remained relatively silent following the
attack. Rock immediately came out and was greeted with a two-minute
standing ovation, but the comedian quieted them and urged patience, saying
that he is still processing everything that happened, and he will have more to
say in the future. The Oscars slap may have marked a change in the direction
of both Smith and Rock's careers. Smith is currently under review by the
Academy for his actions with the possibility of a suspension. Rock has had his
ticket sales increase multiple times over, selling out his tour. Only time will
determine the severity of the slap's impact.

NEXT:WILL SMITH SLAPS CHRIS ROCK:

ALL OSCARS UPDATES AND KEY
RESPONSES
Source: Deadline

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About The Author

Brandon Louis (63 Articles Published)

Grew up absorbing every book, movie, TV show I could get my eyes on. Every time my parents took
me to the doctor, I would forgo the obligatory post-shot ice cream cone for a two hour vacation in
the theater. I have a passion for storytelling and a stomach for pizza. Who am I: Vertigo, Panic Room,
Jurassic Park, Lawrence of Arabia.
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