On Wednesday, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences claimed they asked Will Smith to leave the Oscars ceremony after he forcibly slapped comedian Chris Rock on stage. Now sources are saying nothing could be further from the truth, and that a producer explicitly told Smith he could remain in the Dolby Theater.
The sources, who spoke anonymously with TMZ, are accusing the Academy of lying about the incident.
According to them, there was a debate among officials during a commercial break as to whether or not to eject Smith, but no consensus was reached.
“We’re told Will was aware there was talk about asking him to leave the theater. During one of the commercial breaks, we’re told Oscars producer Will Packer walked up to Will and said, ‘We do not want you to leave’ … this according to our sources,” TMZ reports. “Will Packer walked up to Will Smith just after 8 PM, around 35 minutes after the slap. That’s when he told Will he could stay, according to our sources. Will won the Best Actor Award around 5 minutes later.”
How about we take this to the next level?
Our newsletter is like a refreshing cocktail (or mocktail) of LGBTQ+ entertainment and pop culture, served up with a side of eye-candy.
The shocking moment came after Rock made a joke about Smith’s wife, Jada Pinkett Smith, who has alopecia. Rock said he was waiting for Jada to star in “G.I. Jane 2” (the movie in which Demi Moore sported a crew cut).
At first, Will laughed, but Jada looked unimpressed. Moments later, Will strode up to the stage and slapped Rock.
Related: LGBTQ celebrities react to Will Smith slapping Chris Rock at the Oscars
He then returned to his seat and shouted at Rock to, “keep my wife’s name out your f—–g mouth!”
A tearful Smith apologized to the Academy and his fellow nominees as he accepted the Oscar for best actor for King Richard.
“Love will make you do crazy things,” he said. He also revealed Denzel Washington had told him after the incident: “At your highest, that’s when the devil comes for you.”
Days later, the Academy said in a statement: “Things unfolded in a way we could not have anticipated. While we would like to clarify that Mr. Smith was asked to leave the ceremony and refused, we also recognize we could have handled the situation differently.”
“Mr. Smith’s actions at the 94th Oscars were a deeply shocking, traumatic event to witness in-person and on television,” the academy added. “Mr. Rock, we apologize to you for what you experienced on our stage and thank you for your resilience in that moment. We also apologize to our nominees, guests and viewers for what transpired during what should have been a celebratory event.”
One of the night’s three main hosts, comedian Wanda Sykes, said on Ellen this week: “I just felt so awful for my friend, Chris. And it was sickening. I physically felt ill. And I’m still a little traumatized by it.
For them to let him stay in that room and enjoy the rest of the show and accept his award, I was like, ‘How gross is this? This is just the wrong message.’
You assault somebody, you get escorted out the building and that’s it. For them to let him continue, I thought it was gross. Plus, I wanted to be able to run out after he won and say, ‘Unfortunately will couldn’t be here tonight…’”
inbama
Brava, Wanda!
Joshooeerr
Wanda had airtime on the telecast after The Slap. She said nothing. All we got from any of the hosts was Amy Schumer’s “did I miss anything?” – clearly making light of the incident. And not long after the slap pretty much the entire Dolby Theatre audience – everyone who currently matters in Hollywood – joined in an enthusiastic standing ovation for Smith. Again, none of the hosts said anything. But now Wanda is “sickened”, Amy is “triggered” and half of Hollywood is *boldly* speaking out, fulsome in their condemnation and saying WS should have been escorted from the theatre. But their lack of reaction on the night speaks louder than their words after.
Toofie
She was stunned and had to finish the show.
dario717
My kingdom for a video of Chris Rock just saying “Jada Pinkett Smith” over and over for 5 minutes.
Jack
Is this going to go on for months, cuz I’m over it. It was a nationally televised assault. Arrest him, take his Oscar away….don’t. What is there to investigate or lie about.
thisisnotreal
My thoughts exactly. Americans are always so starved for more drama and things to be offended or fake angry about, that I feel like this is gonna go on for a month minimum until everyone has milked this entire situation completely dry. And you know queerty is gonna be at the forefront of that, making new articles daily about how “the Oscar’s drama just took another crazy turn” or something like “Chris rocks bad week just got a whole lot worse”. I’m already over it and ready to move on to the next stupid thing we are going to be “upset” about for a ridiculous amount of time.
handy6924868
It hasn’t been too difficult to follow smith’s horseshit. He certainly isn’t a bad actor, just not very good. I have no problem in writing him off as just so much crap.
v6origal97
Yes!
cuteguy
This was all Jada’s fault. But now this ugly incident just put the nail on the coffin Bc the Oscar telecast have been losing viewership for years. In 1997, over 57 million ppl watched Titanic win 11 awards. Last year it was down to 9 million. And the 3 hosts they had this year were the 40th ppl they approached bc nobody wants that thankless job. The producers and the academy just gave permission for others to attack comedians on the show so do you really think any high profile comedian will ever come close to ever hosting again? Ricky Gervais would need an army of bodyguards
graphicjack
I can only speak for myself, but I stopped caring about the Oscar ceremony when movie theatres closed and I no longer watched movies in a theatre. Since the pandemic, I think I’ve seen one film in a theatre, and that was Dune. I literally have never heard of 90% of mainstream movies in the last two-three years, I have no idea who’s nominated or who won. I can’t say COVID completely destroyed the industry and the ceremony on its own, and viewership has dropped steadily for some time, but I think no one really cares about movies in the same way anymore… most people are streaming films and not always seeing the theatrical releases.
TimidTim
Oscar’s losing viewership is why they do these staged pr stunt “scandals” every year to begin with. I’d say it might have started with the Warren Beatty reading the wrong Best Picture, which if you had any doubt was staged this just proved your doubt, but probably a little earlier than that. What they do is space the BIG scandals out so people don’t get too suspicious but regardless there’s always something. And look how they’re milking it still. It’s honestly a sickening ploy with all the real travesties around the world especially Ukraine but that’s the self absorbed creeps in lala land for you. Watch, when this all dies out by next Oscar season all parties are gonna releases a major tell alls probably headlining TMZ specifically to refresh it on peoples minds and get them to want to watch. They out themselves in the preview commercials for example, spinning it ala Fox News along the lines of “you never know what’s gonna happen this year.” And I’m not even mentioning how fake the actual slap and afterbirth looked. I thought it was a bit with two guys play fighting. It’s WWE in other words and by the Rocks reaction alone I thought he traded in the peoples eyebrows for Stanley Hudson’s eyeroll.
Creamsicle
The Oscar’s are less relevant than ever. We are already in the middle of a titanic shift in the entertainment industry because streaming media platforms are actually a threat to TV and film now. Production tools are getting cheaper to access and the software is getting easier to use because of advances in visual AI.
Pandemic lockdowns just sped up the trend that is already happening.
Jim
The producer came out and said he was shocked.
But he did nothing.
What feckless people.
Sister Bertha Bedderthanyu
The year Will Smith was nominated for Best Actor for his portrayal of Ali was the year his true behind the scenes colors began to show. For reasons unknown (or lets say to this day are being kept undercover) he punched an actor at the Academy Awards show before it began and was told to leave. The official cover story was he and Jada left because one of the kids got sick but we all know now he was TOLD to leave because he displayed he was out of control. The mistake was letting him get away with that because their lackadaisical response clearly wasn’t enough to get the message thru to him such actions weren’t going to be tolerated. Imagine if he and Rock went after each other like two uncaged pit bulls and others got injured trying to break it up.
I personally never have no ever will care for Chris Rock, Kevin Hart, Eddie Murphy and a few others out there who owe their fame to the exploitation gays and what they perceive as the weakness of others into their routines to keep the crowd rolling in the aisles. All of them come off as out of control kids who got their starts by being nothing else but loudmouthed kids who kept on and on until they finally pissed off the wrong one who said enough was enough (as in the this case). I do believe he (Smith) was told to leave and he said “move me if you’re bad enough to do it”. This incident must not go unpunished and taking away that Oscar would be the best way to show a mediocre actor such actions are not going to be tolerated.
graphicjack
I definitely don’t condone Will’s behaviour, but if we’re going to take Oscars away, can we start with Weinstein and Polanski who are sexual predators? I guess the big question for me is if the Academy is rewarding the art, or the artist? If it’s the art, then sure, let them keep the awards, but if it’s the artist, then it’s hard to separate their performance/achievement with their personal behaviour.
Sister Bertha Bedderthanyu
Thats an extremely cheap attempt to deflect away from the fact that Smith has twice proved his too dangerous to himself and others to be included in any type of group event. He has TWICE proven he will get violent if he doesn’t like what you’ve said or done. To drag up two useless sexual predators into the matter is ludicrous in comparison. TWICE this guy could have done serious injury to people he cared less about publicly attacking and TWICE he gets away with it but you’d rather talk about sexual predators? People like you are just where the problem lay. No, I don’t see how it could be possible to drag racial or sexual issues into this but people like you will do whatever it takes to deflect from the obvious truth that sex nor race has anything to do with a violent, out of control man. Will should have been TOLD, not asked to leave the premises and his refusal means the LAPD should have escorted him out fo the safety of others.
Terrycloth
Seems to me , Chris has taken the high road .he has said very little on stage in Boston except he’s still processing what happened.last show somebody yelled F Will Smith. Chris said no , no no, .Chris refused to press charges and have Will arrested.he apologized to Wanda Skyes saying it was supposed to be her night..the 3 female host..
moretruth
Chris deserved absolutely no blame for the incident. However, both he and the producer perpetuated the image of victims in the black community refusing to snitch or hold violent offenders in their community accountable. The producer should be fired. Smith should be kicked out of the Academy and banned for life. Let him keep his award. Even that was influenced by the Smiths’ entitled boycott of the Oscars a few years ago. Too much bad behavior being rewarded, let alone being held accountable.
GayEGO
I applaud Wanda Sykes, Will should have contained himself.
Just.my.opinion
Will Smith revealed what kind of person he is. If you didn’t already know, now you do.
MISTERJETT
all of this could have been avoided if Will had just stayed in his seat. what was he thinking???
TimidTim
April Fools. It was a work all along…….is what they’ll never admit. EVERYBODY, all parties involved but alas when it comes to their precious super bowl of award shows if someone so much as hints it was all staged they get the Firestein treatment. And no they don’t deserve it anymore than the poor women Harvey himself blackballed but with ratings at steak nobody is willing to risk getting their membership revoked. Outsiders can speculate all they want but within the industry itself you either sell it, sell out, sell your soul or so long Sally.
tjack47
If this were assault at the NHL, NBA, MLB or NFL, fine, suspension, maybe one mention of it in the media and scene.
Terrycloth
Will could have stayed seated yelled at Chris and just avoided the incident better yet remain calm talk to Chris after backstage..I saw Jada laughing at the joke as well as Will until she gave him a look and then he went up and backhanded Chris..I will say this..thank God both were black imagine getting slapped by a white guy or vice versa we would NEVER hear the end of it
ShiningSex
take his Oscar away. Glad to see he ruined his “special” night over something so stupid.
hansniemeijer
Once Smith was offered a role playing a gay character (don’t know anymore for which film). Denzel Washington advised him to turn it down because playing gay might damage Will’s career.
Navycut57
Don’t know about the conversation between Will Smith & Denzel Washington, but Will did play a gay character (conman) in Six Degrees Of Separation in 1993. He conned his way into the home of Stockard Channing & Donald Sutherland who later discovered him in bed with a man.
whereshouldistart
Jada Smith: HE MADE FUN OF MY ALOPECIAAAA!
90% of the world’s population: WHO THE HELL IS JADA SMITH AND WTF DO WE GIVE A RAT’S ASS ABOUT HER ALOPECIAAAA?
The real tragedy was that Benedict Cumberbatch should have won. Will Smith plays every movie he’s in as Will Smith because he can’t act his way out of a wet paper bag.
That whole family is a train wreck.
Next!
white-queer-african
@whereshouldistart, I cannot but agree with you 100%. He has never impressed me as an actor. IMHO. The entire Smith family is unstable and will do anything for staying relevant and in the spotlight. Those kids are a nightmare. Like daddy and mommy. Reminds me of the Jenner / Kardashian mob! Then again we are in Hollywood and the US of A!
Strip him of the Oscar. Not that he should have won it in the first place.
Odd
As a person I don’t care for Will Smith as a ;person because of interview he gave after “Six Degrees” because he played a Gay charter and was embarrassed about doing the part. There is a difference playing a part and the real person.
stanhope
Chris, the minstrel one step away from a rice box, should not have insulted another man’s wife.