Police Were Ready to Arrest Will Smith on the Spot: What Happened Behind the Scenes

The producer of the Oscars, Will Packer, announced that Los Angeles police officers were ready to arrest actor Will Smith on the spot after he slapped host Chris Rock over a joke about his wife during the ceremony, according to ABC.

“The police started saying, ‘Isn’t this assault?’ They said, ‘We will go and arrest him. We are ready. We are ready to arrest him on the spot,’” Packer stated.

He clarified that the police officers discussed the possibility of arresting Smith right behind the scenes, but those plans were canceled after Chris Rock declined to file a complaint.