“It was like throwing concrete in that room,” Packer told Good Morning America about the moment Smith stunned people by stepping on stage and hitting Rock for a joke about the actor’s wife.
“He sucked life out of that room and never came back,” he recalls, saying the audience was left wondering, “Is that true? How should I react?
Asked if Rock saved the show with his modest reaction, Packer replied: “I think he did. “He certainly saved what was left of that night.”
“Because Chris handled the moment with so much grace and determination, he allowed the show to continue,” Packer said.
After conflicting reports about the slap in the face, Packer also confirmed that Academy officials had indeed asked Smith to leave the ceremony and were considering removing him physically, an option that Packer says he successfully pressured. against him.
Packer said co-producer Shayla Cowan had informed him that Academy staff “were ready to remove Will Smith, of course.”
“I had not participated in these discussions, so I immediately went to the leadership of the Academy that was in the area and said: ‘Chris Rock does not want that. “Rock has made it clear he does not want to make a bad situation worse,” Packer said.
“I supported what Rock wanted at the time, which was not to physically remove Will Smith at the time. “Because, as it has been explained to me now, that was the only option,” he said. “There was a discussion, in which I was not part, to ask him to leave voluntarily.”
However, a source close to Rock told TMZ that he denied that the comedian was ever asked about Smith’s removal from the theater.
“I’m not accusing Packer,” Chris told Packer. “All I want to do is leave.” He was never asked if Will wanted to leave. This is the Academy that covers itself “.
Oscar-winning producer Will Packer talked about how Will Smith’s slap on Chris Rock brought Sunday’s ceremony into chaos, saying Rock’s composure saved the show.
Chris Rock (screened Thursday night) saved the Oscars with a modest slap in the face, says Packer
Rock, who appeared Thursday, has appeared in sold out crowds in Boston, but has not spoken at length about the incident.
Will Smith is fighting to save his career after slapping Chris Rock (pictured) during the Oscars on Sunday night. The actor reportedly wrote to the Academy to support his case before his upcoming hearing on April 18
Smith was widely expected to win the Best Actor award, which he did. Packer says Smith’s failure to use his acceptance speech to apologize to Rock was a missed opportunity.
“I think a lot of us hoped he would go up to that stage and make it better,” Packer said. “It could not have happened at that very moment, because of what happened.”
“But I think we hoped he would do better, that he would stand on this stage and say that what just happened a few minutes ago was completely and utterly wrong. “Chris Rock, I’m so sorry, forgive me.” “That was what I was hoping for,” Packer said.
“I felt he was going to win and I hoped he would have said that if he had stayed,” Packer said.
Instead, Smith delivered a provocative speech, describing himself as a proud protector of his family, while apologizing to the Academy and its candidates, but not to Rock.
Packer also said police told Rock they would remove Smith from the audience and arrest him for battery.
“We’re going to get him, we’re ready to get him now,” police told Rock, Packer recalled. “You can make accusations. We can arrest him. ”
Packer claimed Rock was dismissive of police, but encouraged the comedian to listen to them before making a decision.
“They were making choices and as they talked, Chris was very scornful of those choices. It was like, “No, I’m fine.” It was like, “No, no, no,” said the producer.
Rock eventually declined to comment, but police said in a statement Sunday that “if the party wants a police report at a later date, the LAPD will be available to complete an investigation.”
Los Angeles police were ready to arrest Will Smith after slapping Chris Rock during the Oscars on Sunday night, but did not do so at the request of the comedian, claims Oscar producer Will Packer.
Packer said Rock “handled the moment with so much grace and grace” and saved what was left of the show.
However, Smith – who was awarded his first Oscar after the attack on stage – will face “disciplinary proceedings” with Oscar officials that could lead to suspension, expulsion or other sanctions.
“In accordance with the Academy’s Code of Conduct, as well as California law, Mr. Smith receives at least 15 days’ notice to vote on his violations and penalties, and the opportunity to be heard in advance through a written response. “, The Academy said in a statement on Wednesday.
A source close to the actor confirmed to The Sun that Smith and his lawyers are writing to the Academy to support his case before his upcoming hearing on April 18.
“Things are hanging in the balance. “He will write an official letter to apologize and essentially beg for forgiveness,” the source said. “He is also expected to have a call with the show hosts in the next 24 hours. However, April 18 is the Day of the West – he will find out if he has another Oscar, and most likely, a career “.
Packer’s interview comes as insiders claim that Rock, 57, was never asked if Smith should leave the ceremony after the attack.
“No one ever asked Chris if Will had to leave. They never consulted him. “It was Oscar producer Will Packer who made the final decision to let Will stay,” said one New York Post expert.
Witnesses claim that Packer approached the actor and said: “We do not want you to leave.”
Other experts have reiterated that the producer was “the key” to allowing Smith to remain for the rest of the show.
“Packer came out to the band and talked to Smith,” two witnesses confirmed to Variety. “Packer said he and the production ‘officially’ wanted Smith to remain for the rest of the series, according to one witness.
Despite the allegations, Packer told the GMA that he did not speak directly with Smith at the Oscars.
Reports also initially claimed that Oscar President David Rubin and CEO Down Hudson had asked Independence Day actor to leave the ceremony following the outburst.
However, sources who reportedly attended discussions between the Academy leaders claim that there was never any attempt to remove Smith from the ceremony.
Officials were reportedly divided over whether or not to remove the star, and although there was much heated debate during the commercial breaks, no consensus was ever reached, TMZ reported.
Chris Rock spoke briefly about the Oscar slap this weekend during a performance at the Wilbur Theater in Boston on Wednesday before moving on to his regular set.
The news of a possible disciplinary action against Smith comes as the secrets of Rock were revealed (photographed in Boston on Wednesday) he was never asked if the actor had to leave the ceremony after the attack.
Smith met with Oscar leaders on Tuesday to discuss the consequences of the attack, Variety reported. People familiar with the meeting claim that Rubin and Hudson talked to Smith in the Zoom for about 30 minutes.
A source claimed that Smith apologized to the Academy leaders for his actions and said he knew there would be consequences. The fresh Bel-Air prince also tried to justify why he broke Rock’s joke with his wife, Jada Pinkett Smith, the insider claimed.
However, those attending Wednesday’s special meeting of the Academy’s board told the magazine that they did not recall Rubin or Hudson mentioning the alleged discussion with Smith.
Following an emergency meeting of the board, the Academy announced that Smith had violated the group code of conduct and faced “suspension, expulsion or other sanctions”.
Disciplinary action could include a possible one-year ban from the Oscars, which would have prevented Smith from submitting for awards.
“They really feel they have to see them to act,” said one of the academy’s experts, according to the Sun. “It’s no surprise that Will is seeking legal advice – he may need all the help he can get to avoid sanctions.”
Sources familiar with the situation also claim that the fate of his upcoming projects, including the Apple-funded Emancipation slave escape drama, remains in question.
“Production executives and studio executives do not want to see them choose a side too early,” said the initiate, noting that Smith is expected to return for a fourth installment of the Bad Boys franchise, although no start date has been set yet.
In fact, sources claim that the Academy never asked the actor to leave the facility, despite the fact that many leaders felt they should. Insiders claim that the decision to let Smith stay was eventually made by producer Will Packer (behind-the-scenes photo during Sunday’s Oscars) who allegedly approached the actor and said, “We do not want you to leave.”
A source close to Packer (behind-the-scenes photo with Venus Williams) denied that he encouraged Smith to remain in the audience
The announcement of the Academy in detail
The Board of Governors today initiated disciplinary proceedings against Mr. Smith for breaches of the Academy’s Code of Conduct, including inappropriate physical contact, abusive or threatening conduct, and jeopardizing the integrity of the Academy. In accordance with the Academy’s Code of Conduct, as well as California law, Mr. Smith is given at least 15 days’ notice to vote on his violations and sanctions and the opportunity to be heard in advance through a …
