After Will Smith apologized for the slap, Oscars Producer Will Packer has a message for the Actor

The 2022 Academy Awards have been months ago, but the effects of one particular incident are still being felt. In particular, the moment Will Smith smacked Chris Rock on national television just before taking home the Best Actor Oscar. Will Packer, the Oscars’ producer, has a message for the actor after Smith just apologized for the smack.

Will Smith was an A-list celebrity and had been America’s favorite for years prior to the notorious slap. He slapped Chris Rock after the comedian made a joke about his wife Jada Pinkett Smith, which is in part why the internet erupted online. A lengthy video apology from Smith that he recently posted for his behavior quickly went viral. When ET recently inquired about the aforementioned apology, Academy Awards producer Will Packer responded candidly by stating:

I love the fact that he’s being so transparent about his process. Clearly he is going through his own personal rehabilitation. I’m pulling for him. I’m pulling for him to continue his own process, but I think this is for him. He needs to do it. I’m wishing you the best, brother.

Talk about sending a positive message. Although many people have criticized Will Smith for his behavior at the Academy Awards, it appears that the show’s producer is feeling a little more optimistic about Will Smith following the incident with Chris Rock. We’ll just have to wait and see if more people start to think differently after this most recent apology.

Will Packer, a producer of Idris Elba’s new film Beast, made these remarks to ET during the film’s New York Premiere. However, the topic quickly shifted to Will Smith’s on-going controversy and his widely shared internet apologies to Chris Rock and the wider public. And it appears like Packer wants Smith to know that he supports the recent Academy Award-winning actor despite the viral slap incident.

The conversation around Will Smith, Chris Rick, and the slap hasn’t really slowed down despite the 2022 Oscars taking place back in March. This is perhaps the motivation behind the King Richard actor’s recent lengthy social media video apology to everyone for his behavior. Rock, however, doesn’t appear to have commented on this most recent, widely circulated report about their on-camera altercation.

You can view that clip again below:

Will Smith has generally avoided the spotlight since the slap while Chris Rock has been touring with his stand-up show and selling out locations. His forthcoming acting roles were delayed, and he was expelled from the Film Academy and prohibited from attending the Oscars for ten years.

Emancipation, Will Smith’s upcoming film, is anticipated to release in 2023.