Oscars show-runner Will Packer said the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) were “prepared” to arrest Will Smith following his assault of Chris Rock at the awards show. Packer said Rock had been “very dismissive” of the options given to him by the LAPD when officers went to his office to speak with the comedian after the incident.
It comes following reports from Variety that Smith met with leaders of the Academy on Tuesday to discuss his outburst, and apologised to chief executive Dawn Hudson and president David Rubin. The actor, 53, won best actor for King Richard, but stormed on stage prior to his win after reacting to a joke made by Rock which referred to his wife Jada Pinkett Smith’s shaved head.
The Academy said Smith had been asked to leave the ceremony following the incident, but had refused. A formal review has been launched to discuss what disciplinary measures will be taken, and Smith will reportedly be given the chance to provide a written defence before the Academy board meets again on April 18.
The LAPD said that no charges had been filed against him but, according to Packer, they had told Rock that he had the power to do so.
“They were saying this is battery, that was the word they used at that moment, they said ‘we will go get him, we are prepared to go get him right now,” Packer said in a clip from an interview with ABC. “‘You can press charges, we can arrest him’, they were laying out the options.”
He added: “As they were talking Chris was being very dismissive of those options, he was like ‘no I’m fine’… and even to the point I said ‘Rock let them finish’. The other LAPD officers finished laying out what his options were and they said ‘would you like us to take any action and he said no’.”
The interview with Packer is due to air on Good Morning America on Friday. Variety reported that on Tuesday during his meeting with Academy bosses Smith explained his actions and showed awareness that there would be consequences.
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