Chris Rock declines to file a police report after Will Smith altercation | Channel

Warning: This article contains strong language.

• Chris Rock has declined to file a police report following an altercation with Will Smith.
• Smith shocked onlookers when he slapped Rock with an open hand on stage at this year’s Oscars ceremony.
• “If the involved party desires a police report at a later date, LAPD will be available to complete an investigative report,” a police statement read.

Chris Rock has reportedly declined to file a police report after being physically assaulted by Will Smith.

The Los Angeles Police Department confirmed to Variety that Chris Rock “declined to file a police report” following the altercation.

A complete statement from the Los Angeles Police Department reads: “LAPD investigative entities are aware of an incident between two individuals during the Academy Awards program. The incident involved one individual slapping another. 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.”

In what has become one of the most shocking moments in Oscars history, Will Smith smacked presenter Chris Rock in the face with an open hand and shouted a vulgarity at the comedian for making a joke about his wife’s appearance at the Academy Awards ceremony on Sunday.

At first, the episode with Rock appeared to be a scripted joke but turned serious when Smith shouted out, “Keep my wife’s name out of your fucking mouth.”

During his acceptance speech after winning the Oscar for playing Richard Williams, the father of tennis stars Venus and Serena Williams, Smith apologised to the Academy and his fellow nominees but not to Rock.

Shortly after the incident went viral on Twitter, the Academy tweeted: “The Academy does not condone violence of any form.”

Neither Rock nor Smith have made a statement following the incident.

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