According to many sources, Chris Rock was not asked if Will Smith should be removed from the Oscars, and it was supposedly producer Will Packer who made the decision to let the “King Richard” star stay after he slapped Rock.
“No one ever asked Chris if he thought Will should go.” He was never consulted. One insider added, “It was Oscars producer Will Packer who made the final decision to let Will stay.”
Rock was driven into a tizzy after getting hit by Smith at the 94th Academy Awards on Sunday, and was hailed by producers and LAPD cops. He has chosen not to bring charges thus far.
Smith had broken the Academy’s stringent rule of conduct, as The Washington Post first reported. He might face repercussions, including a year-long ban from the Academy, which would prevent him from being nominated for his highly anticipated new film “Emancipation” next year.
The Academy informed members on Wednesday that Smith was facing disciplinary action because he “refused” to leave the event after the incident and instead stayed in the Dolby Theatre to accept his Best Actor award for “King Richard.”
Despite producers and Academy officials being split on the issue, Smith was instructed by Packer that he could stay, according to TMZ on Thursday.
After smacking Rock, Smith was given the award for Best Actor. During his acceptance speech, he apologized to the Academy, but not Rock.
“Packer approached Will and stated, ‘We do not want you to leave,'” according to the site.
Smith was never formally asked to leave the show, according to Variety, and Packer was “the key” to Smith staying. “According to two witnesses, Packer strolled out into the orchestra and conferred with Smith,” the trade newspaper stated. “According to one of the witnesses, Packer and the production ‘officially’ wanted Smith to stay for the rest of the program.”
A source close to Packer, however, disputed to Variety that the producer pressed Smith to stay.
Insiders disagree about whether Smith was officially asked to leave.
Rock broke his silence for the first time since the slap on Wednesday night while on tour in Boston, saying he was still “processing” the attack.