The Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) has confirmed that comedian Chris Rock has “declined to file a police report” following an altercation with Oscar winner Will Smith at the 94th Academy Awards.
Smith, who later won the Oscar for Actor in a Lead Role, took to the stage and smacked Rock after the comedian made an insensitive joke about Jada Pinkett Smith, reports `Variety`.
A full statement from the LAPD reads: “LAPD investigative entities are aware of an incident between two individuals during the Academy Awards programme. The incident involved one individual slapping another.”
Referring obviously to Rock, it adds: “The individual involved has declined to file a police report. If the involved party desires a police report at a later date, LAPD will be available to complete an investigative report.”
According to `Variety`, while presenting the award for the best documentary feature, Rock made a joke about Pinkett Smith`s shaved head by comparing it to the look of Demi Moore in the 1997 movie `G.I. Jane`.
Rock said he couldn`t wait to see Pinkett Smith, who has alopecia (a medical condition that results in abnormal hair loss), star in `G.I. Jane 2`, which led Smith to go up on stage and slap Rock. Smith returned to his seat and shouted: “Keep my wife`s name out of your f****** mouth!”
Smith later issued an apology in his tearful acceptance speech. The actor said: “I want to apologise to the Academy. I want to apologise to all my fellow nominees. This is a beautiful moment and I`m not crying for winning an award. It`s not about winning an award for me. It`s about being able to shine a light on all of the people.”
In between the slap and his best actor win, Smith met with Denzel Washington. The eGlory` and eTraining Day` Oscar winner offered Smith the following advice: “At your highest moment, be careful, that`s when the devil comes for you.”
Pinkett Smith announced last year that she had shaved her head after struggling with alopecia. After Rock made his `G.I. Jane` joke, she was seen not laughing and rolling her eyes.
She wrote on Instagram last year: “Now at this point, I can only laugh … y`all know I`ve been struggling with alopecia … Mama`s gonna have to take it down to the scalp so nobody thinks she got brain surgery or something. Me and this alopecia are going to be friends … period!”
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