Chris Rock won’t press charges against Will Smith after Oscars slap
Chris Rock chose not to press charges against Will Smith after the Oscar-winning actor slapped him at the Oscars on Sunday night.
According to Deadline, the comedian was approached by the Los Angeles Police Department at the Dolby Theater shortly after the event ended on ABC. However, Rock declined to press charges against Smith, who won the Best Actor Oscar for his role in King Richard earlier in the night.
“LAPD investigative entities are aware of an incident between two individuals at the Oscars,” police said in a statement. “The incident involved an individual slapping another. The individual involved declined to file a complaint with the police. If the party involved wants a police report at a later date, the LAPD will be available to file a police report. ‘investigation.”
Rock has up to six months to file a report if he changes his mind. In California, common assault is classified as a misdemeanor and carries a potential sentence of six months in jail and a fine of up to $100,000.
The incident in question came about after Rock made a joke about Jada Pinkett Smith in Gi Jane 2, referencing her shaved head. The Matrix actress has been open in the past about suffering from alopecia. After the gag, Smith walked over to Rock and slapped him in the face. “Keep my wife’s name out of your fucking mouth,” he shouted as she sat back down.
Addressing the situation on Twitter, the Academy released a statement saying it “does not condone any form of violence. Tonight, we are thrilled to celebrate the winners of the 94th Academy Awards, who deserve this moment of recognition from their peers and moviegoers around the world.”
The Academy does not tolerate any form of violence.
Tonight, we are thrilled to celebrate our 94th Oscar recipients, who deserve this moment of recognition from their peers and moviegoers around the world.
– The Academy (@TheAcademy)
March 28, 2022
Smith later apologized to the Academy and fellow nominees during his acceptance speech. “Art imitates life,” she says. “I look like the mad dad, as they said of Richard Williams… love will make you do crazy things.”
