Will Smith Apologizes to Chris Rock, but May Still Face Charges; Legal Expert Weighs In
After Will Smith shocked audience members and millions of viewers at home by slapping Chris Rock on stage, a legal expert weighed in on the situation, saying the comedian could sue the actor for what he did.
Initially, CNN Entertainment reported that the comedian declined to press charges against the "King Richard" star after the on-stage assault.
The Los Angeles Police Department confirmed that they are aware of the incident, and the "individual" has declined to file a police report.
However, authorities gave the comedian a chance as they will be available to complete an investigative report if he wishes to press charges in the future.
Following this, Beverly Hills-based attorney Adam Michael Sacks spoke to The U.S. Sun about the situation, saying the comic could take Smith to civil court.
In addition to filing a lawsuit against the actor for public humiliation and embarrassment, he could even sue the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences for failing to protect him as a performer on stage.
The lawyer suggested that the two celebrities would likely settle out of court, but the comedian could still change his mind in the future.
The recent news comes after The Academy has condemned the "Fresh Prince of Bel-Air" star's actions, saying they officially started a formal review about what happened and will "explore further action and consequences" following their Bylaws, Standards of Conduct, and the California law.
The altercation happened after Chris Rock joked about the actor's wife, Jada Pinkett Smiths' bald hairstyle, caused by her alopecia.
Smith appeared to be laughing at first, but he later went up the stage to slap Rock.
When the "After Earth" actor got back in his seat, he shouted, "keep my wife's name out of your f****** mouth."
Will Smith Apologizes to Chris Rock After Oscars Altercation
A day after the incident, Will Smith took to his official Instagram account to publicly apologize to Rock, saying he reacted emotionally to the jokes about his wife.
The actor started his statement by condemning all forms of violence and admitting that his behavior was "unacceptable and inexcusable."
"Jokes at my expense are a part of the job, but a joke about Jada's medical condition was too much for me to bear," he penned.
Smith then apologized to the comic, saying he was out of line and wrong.
"I am embarrassed and my actions were not indicative of the man I want to be. There is no place for violence in a world of love and kindness," he added.
The "I Am Legend" star also apologized to the Academy, producers, and everyone who watched the show, especially the Williams Family, the center of his latest film, "King Richard."
