The producer of the Oscar show, Will Packer, has for the first time publicly commented on the slap scandal at the 94th Academy Awards. Police made it clear on Oscar night that they could have arrested Will Smith for “assault,” Packer said on Good Morning America.
The police told comedian Chris Rock that he could file a complaint against Smith. But Rock refused, Packer said. “Chris handled that moment with so much dignity and composure – it allowed the show to go on.”
Chris Rock improvised
Smith gave Rock a resounding slap on stage at the show after the comedian made a joke about Smith’s wife, Jada Pinkett. Rock didn’t pull through his pre-planned program, didn’t read from the teleprompter, but improvised, Packer said. “But if there’s anyone you don’t have to worry about improvising in front of an audience, that’s Chris Rock. Nobody’s better.”
At first he thought the slap was a pre-arranged gag or something like that, Packer said. But then he spoke to Rock backstage right after the incident. “I said, ‘Did he really hit you?’ and Rock looked at me and said, ‘I just got hit by Muhammad Ali.’ That’s exactly what he said, in a way only Chris can. He went straight back into joke mode, but you could tell he was still in a lot of shock.”
Packer further stated that he did not speak to Smith immediately after the incident. Smith later apologized to him directly.
initiation of disciplinary proceedings
The Oscar Academy announced on Wednesday after an emergency meeting that disciplinary proceedings would be initiated against the “King Richard” actor. It was also said that Smith was asked to leave the gala after the incident. But he did not comply. It was initially unclear how and by whom Smith was asked to do so.
Shortly after the slapping incident, the actor won the Best Actor Oscar for his role in King Richard. In his acceptance speech, he presented himself as a protector and seemed to want to defend the failure. On Monday he apologized via Instagram. The incident is embarrassing for him. (dpa)