LAPD was ‘prepared’ to arrest Will Smith after Chris Rock slapped him, says Oscar producer

Will Smith confronted Chris Rock during Sunday night’s Academy Awards after the actor slapped the comedian after a joke about Jada Pinkett Smith

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Oscars slow motion shows Will Smith beating Chris Rock

Police officers were “prepared” to take action against Will Smith, including a possible arrest, after he was slapped at the Oscars, a producer at the ceremony said.

The actor, 53, stormed the stage at the awards show Sunday night (March 27) after a joke about his wife Jada Pinkett Smith, 50, was made by guest presenter Chris Rock, 57.

The comedian had suggested that she looked like GI Jane, presumably in reference to her shaved head – having previously suffered from hair loss due to alopecia.

Smith – who has been married to Pinkett Smith since 1997 – confronted Rock and punched him during the live broadcast from the Dolby Theater in Los Angeles.

The outbreak has attracted significant attention in the days since, with reports in recent days that Rock had opted out of filing a police report.

It has now been claimed that the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) was “ready” to take action against Smith if the comedian decided to press charges.

So says Will Packer, 47, – a producer at this year’s Oscars – who has now revealed what happened after the altercation abc news.

He said LAPD spoke to Rock after the altercation, claiming in his most recent interview that cops at the time referred to the incident as “battery.”

The producer – whose interview will be released in full today – said officers told Rock they were ready to take action and outlined the options to the comedian.

Packer claimed officers told Rock, “We’re going to get him. We are prepared. We’re ready to get him right away. You can file charges. We can arrest him.”

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Packer said the comedian was “very dismissive” of the options given to him by officers and claims Rock turned down the opportunity to take action.

A spokesman for the LAPD told us that at all Academy Awards ceremonies, the police are “close by.”

The spokesman further commented that LAPD officials would have facilitated the arrest if the victim had chosen to arrest a private individual.

However, they confirmed that no arrests were made and that the LAPD took no further action on behalf of the victim or anyone else in connection with the incident.

The Mirror reached out to Rock and Smith officials.

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