LOS ANGELES: Los Angeles police were on site and ready to arrest actor Will Smith at the Academy Awards on Sunday for slapping presenter Chris Rock, the producer of the Hollywood ceremony said on Thursday.
The authorities did take not any action because Rock declined to press charges, producer Will Packer said, echoing what a police spokesperson said on Sunday.
“They were saying, you know, this is battery, was a word they used in that moment,” Packer said in excerpts from an interview that will air Friday on ABC’s “Good Morning America.”
“They said, we will go get him. We are prepared. We’re prepared to get him right now,” Packer added.
During the live Oscars telecast, Smith strode up to the stage after Rock made a joke about the appearance of Smith’s wife, then smacked the comedian’s face.
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. It was unclear whether Rock was aware that Jada Pinkett Smith has a condition that causes hair loss.
A police spokesman said Sunday night that the individual involved in the incident had declined to press charges, but did not provide details about the interactions at the awards show.
Police offered to arrest Will Smith, Oscars producer says
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Police offered to arrest Will Smith, Oscars producer says
- The authorities did take not any action because Rock declined to press charges, producer Will Packer said
Ramadan recipes: Roasted seabass in a delicious tomato sauce
DUBAI: Chef Elias of Dubai’s La Maison Ani shares the recipe for a refined Mediterranean dish that highlights simplicity, balance and freshness.
Roasted seabass
2 seabass fillets
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
2 tbsp olive oil
¾ cup tomato sauce
2 tsp lemon juice
1 tbsp capers
½ small yellow courgette, thinly sliced
¼ small green courgette, thinly sliced
Fresh basil leaves
Fresh chives
Lemon zest
Sumac rice
¾ cup cooked sumac rice
Tomato sauce
2 cups diced ripe tomatoes (fresh or canned)
½ small white onion, finely diced
1 small garlic clove, minced
3 tbsp olive oil
2 bay leaves
2 tsp sugar
¾ tsp salt
½ cup water
Sumac rice
1¼ cups basmati rice
1¾ cups chicken stock
1 tsp salt
1½ tbsp sumac
3 tbsp butter
2 tsp grated garlic
Method
Seabass
Season the seabass fillets with salt and pepper. Heat olive oil in a pan over medium-high heat. Sear the fish skin-side down for 3 minutes, flip and cook for 1 minute. Transfer to a preheated oven at 180 C and bake for 5 minutes.
Courgettes
Season the sliced courgettes with salt. Sear in a hot pan for 2–3. Finish with a squeeze of lemon juice.
Tomato sauce
Heat olive oil in a saucepan over medium heat. Add onion and garlic and cook gently until soft. Add water and let it reduce. Add tomatoes, bay leaves, sugar and salt. Bring to a simmer and cook for 20–25 minutes, until thickened.
Sumac rice
Rinse rice until the water runs clear. Add rice, chicken stock and salt to a pot. Bring to a boil, reduce heat and cook for 15 minutes. Melt butter in a pan, add garlic and cook gently for 2 minutes. Stir in sumac. Fold the butter mixture through the rice gently.
To serve
Spoon warm tomato sauce onto each plate. Place the seabass on top and arrange the courgettes over the fish. Serve with sumac rice on the side.
