Chris Rock Declines to File Police Report After Will Smith Slaps Him at 2022 Oscars, LAPD Confirms
At the 2022 Oscars, Will Smith struck Chris Rock in the face when the comedian made a joke about Jada Pinkett Smith’s hair.
Chris Rock refused to file a police report after Will Smith hit him across the face onstage at the 2022 Academy Awards, according to the Los Angeles Police Department.
“Investigative entities are aware of an incident involving two persons during the Academy Awards ceremony,” the LAPD claimed in a statement obtained by Variety.
One individual slapped another during the incident. The individual who was involved in the incident has refused to file a police report.
“If the involved party needs a police report at a later date, LAPD will be ready to create an investigative report,” the statement said.
PEOPLE reached out to Rock’s agents for comment, but they did not respond right away.
The calamity transpired at Sunday’s awards show after Rock, 57, made a joke to Smith’s wife Jada Pinkett Smith about her hair loss, which she recently opened up about as a result of her years-long fight with alopecia. “Jada, I adore you. I’m excited to see you again in G.I. Jane 2 “He cracked a witty remark.
Smith, 53, then rushed to the stage and smacked Rock in the face, startling the audience and live viewers across the world. “Oh wow,” remarked a surprised Rock as Will returned to his seat. The narrator states, “Will Smith just smacked the s— out of me.”
“Don’t even mention my wife’s name!” Smith yelled up to the stage at Rock after resuming his seat.
“Wow, man, it was a G.I. Jane joke!” exclaimed Rock. “Keep my wife’s name out of your f—ing mouth!” Smith yelled.
“All right, I’ll do it.” Before handing up the award, Rock answered, “That was the… best night in the history of television.”
After winning Best Actor for his depiction of Venus and Serena Williams’ father Richard Williams in King Richard, Smith mentioned the incident in his acceptance speech, though he didn’t say Rock.
“I would like to apologize to the Academy. I’d like to apologize to all of my fellow nominees “he explained.
The actor, who had previously been nominated for Ali and The Pursuit of Happyness, went on to say, “Art imitates life: I have a striking resemblance to my demented father. Richard Williams was mentioned in the same way. On the other hand, love will make you insane.”
He later stated, “The ability to love and care for my mother, family, and wife… Thank you so much for giving me this opportunity. Thank you for giving me this chance. I’m hoping for another invitation to the Academy.”
The Academy published a statement criticizing Smith’s behavior after the event: “The Academy does not accept violence in any form. We are pleased to recognize the 94th Academy Award winners tonight, who have been nominated by their peers and moviegoers all across the world.”
Tensions between the Best Actor winner and Oscars host, according to a source, went back several years, when Rock targeted Pinkett Smith, 50, while hosting the 2016 Academy Awards.
“Because of the ‘Oscars So White’ scandal, Jada proclaimed a boycott when Chris presented the Oscars in 2016. In his address, he made fun of her, claiming that she couldn’t boycott something she wasn’t invited to. “The insider elucidates,” he said. Will was still furious about it.”
In his opening speech at the time, Rock made fun of Jada. “The Oscar boycott by Jada is similar to my boycott of Rihanna’s underwear. The celebration was not open to me” he explained.
Source: people.com