Oscar Producer Admits The Will Smith Slap Was 'Very Painful Moment'

Will Packer, the man who produced the now-legendary Oscars 2022, took to Twitter again on Monday to talk about what people are calling the most shocking moment in Oscars history.

This moment was when actor Will Smith marched up the stage and smacked presenter and comedian Chris Rock. It was a moment that shocked not just the celebrities present at the Dolby Theatre but millions of viewers who tuned into the live show.

There have since been many reactions to the incident, from celebrities who were present to fans of Smith and Rock. Read on to find out more about what happened and what Packer had to say.

Packer initially made no direct comment on the Smith and Rock incident but tweeted, “Welp … I said it wouldn’t be boring #Oscars.” His tweet was met with plenty of criticism from fans who said he was too thoughtless about the incident.

One comment read, “Making jokes about an assault that happened during your show isn’t the congratulatory message you think it is.” The statements and criticism by fans then prompted Packer to tweet again on Monday morning. 

https://twitter.com/willpowerpacker/status/1508488048610140165?s=20&t=hXfg9NLEPvAYeC8as6LoQw

He tweeted, “Black people have a defiant spirit of laughter when it comes to dealing with pain because there has been so much of it. I don’t feel the need to elucidate that for you. But I also don’t mind being transparent and say that this was a very painful moment for me. On many levels.”

Smith marched on stage during the live ceremony and smacked Rock after the comedian made a G.I Jane joke referencing Smith’s wife, Jada Pinkett Smith. The joke was a reference to Jada’s shaved head, which is due to her alopecia. Rock was onstage to present the Oscars Award for Best documentary feature.

As Smith walked back to his seat, Rock said, “Wow, wow … Will Smith just smacked the shit out of me.” In response, the “Gemini Man” actor shouted, “Keep my wife’s name out of your fucking mouth!” Rock then clarified that it “was a G.I Jane joke,” to which Smith repeated his warning.

After pausing for a moment to collect himself, Rock then told the audience of celebrities, “That was a — greatest night in the history of television,” and then proceeded to present the award for best documentary.

Not long after the incident, Smith won the Oscar Award for best actor for his role as Richard Williams in “King Richard.” The award was his first-ever Oscar win, and it was an emotional moment for him as he retook the stage to accept it.

In his acceptance speech, he said, “Richard Williams was a fierce defender of his family. At this time in my life, in this moment, I am overwhelmed by what God is calling on me to do and be in this world. He also apologized to the Academy and his fellow nominees for the earlier incident but made no apology to Rock.

He continued, “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 lot on all the people … Art imitates life. I look like the crazy father, just like they said about Richard Williams! But, love will make you do crazy things.”

Packer is a successful producer with credits for movies such as “Girls Trip,” which Jada featured in, “Night School,” and “Think Like a Man.” During an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Packer vowed to do his best to return the Oscars to its former glory, as the iconic award ceremony has experienced a steady decline in ratings.

His efforts this year included hiring three hosts for the 2022 ceremony- Amy Schumer, Regina Hall, and Wanda Sykes. So far, it seems that Packer’s work is paying off, with a significant increase in last year’s ceremony’s ratings.

Although it is still too early to say, it appears this year’s ceremony was also a huge success, regardless of the Smith/Rock incident, which has overshadowed the other aspects of the night on social media.