Oscars slap,” information is still leaking out about what took place, and questions are being answered — namely, why Will Smith was not escorted from the venue after striking comedian Chris Rock during the live broadcast.On Friday, Oscars producer Will Packer revealed in an interview with Good Morning America that Los Angeles police officers were prepared to arrest Smith, 53, but Rock’s insistence not to press charges prevented that.Packer, who was producing the 94th Academy Awards for the first time, said initially — like many audience members at home and in the Dolby Theatre — he thought Smith slapping Rock was a bit.It was only once Rock exited the stage and confirmed to Packer that he really had been hit that Packer understood the situation.“I just took a punch from Muhammad Ali,” Packer said Rock joked, though he confirmed Rock was still “very much in shock.”EXCLUSIVE: #Oscars producer Will Packer tells @GMA what happened behind the scenes after actor Will Smith slapped host Chris Rock live on stage. @tjholmes https://t.co/AeoYcGkM32 pic.twitter.com/xe9E2cFo8N— Good Morning America (@GMA) April 1, 2022 Wanda Sykes felt ‘physically ill’ after Will Smith, Chris Rock Oscars slap The altercation between Smith and Rock occurred Sunday during the Oscars broadcast when Rock, 57, was presenting the award for Documentary Feature (won by Summer of Soul).“Jada, I love you.
G.I. Jane 2, can’t wait to see it, all right?” Rock joked, referencing the 1997 film G.I. Jane starring Demi Moore, who shaved her head to portray a fictional Navy SEAL candidate.Pinkett Smith, who has publicly spoken about her struggles with alopecia, was visibly unimpressed by the joke.Smith walked onto the stage from his front-row seat and took a swing.