Video: Oscars: Academy says they asked Will Smith to leave but he refused. (USA TODAY)Showbiz Minute: Smith, Oscars, Prince Philip'Justice League' 'evolved emotionally' after tragedyQuinta Brunson talks A+ first semester for 'Abbott Elementary'Judd Apatow gets meta with Netflix pandemic comedy 'The Bubble'Ronnie Wood paints it blackCelebrities react to Will Smith Oscars incidentWill Smith and Chris Rock's confrontation looms over historic wins at the 2022 OscarsOscars best dressed: See the celebrities who stunned on the red carpetLegendary Foo Fighters' drummer Taylor Hawkins has diedLin-Manuel Miranda 'surrounded by heroes' at DGA AwardsRita Moreno reacts to Rachel Zegler's Oscars invitation at annual Women in Film eventNicolas Cage: Zelenskyy is 'a very brave, brave man'Less than an hour later, Smith gave a tearful speech on stage as he accepted the best actor trophy for his role in "King Richard. "Behind the scenes, police were discussing options with Rock, Packer said.
Rock "was being very dismissive of those options. He was like, 'No, no, no, I'm fine. ' And even to the point where I said, 'Rock, let them finish,'" Packer added.
Representatives for Rock did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Smith apologized to Rock, producers and viewers in a statement on Monday, saying he had "reacted emotionally".
Rock's joke about Smith's wife, Jada Pinkett Smith, made a reference to the 1997 film "G. I. Jane" in which actress Demi Moore shaved her head.
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