Oscars Producer Explains Why Will Smith Wasn't Kicked Out After His Infamous Slap
Lifestyle - News
By JOEY KEOGH
The reverberations from the slap heard 'round the world continue to be felt, as Will Smith met with Academy executives to discuss possible consequences. Though reports indicate that Smith refused to leave the ceremony after the incident with Rock occurred, a producer on the show clarified there's more to the story.
During an interview on “Good Morning America,” Oscars producer Will Packer revealed that it was Chris Rock who lobbied not to have Smith removed. Us Weekly also reported that the LAPD were prepared to arrest Smith for battery, but Rock again put them off.
"That was Chris' energy,” Packer said. “His tone was not retaliatory, it was not angry.” Instead, Rock made it clear that he didn’t want to make a bad situation worse, and Packer felt that nothing could've made the situation better except for Smith taking accountability onstage.