Hollywood Agent Is Halting Work With Will Smith's Production Company After Slap
Topics: Will Smith, Oscars, Jada Pinkett Smith, Celebrity
Tom Fenton
Featured Image Credit: Alamy
Topics: Will Smith, Oscars, Jada Pinkett Smith, Celebrity
A prominent Hollywood agent has revealed they will not be working with Will Smith's production company moving forwards, as the fallout from last Sunday's slapping incident at the Oscars continues.
Smith slapped comedian Chris Rock across the face, after the Everybody Hates Chris creator, who was presenting the Oscar for Best Documentary, told a joke at Jada Pinkett Smith's expense.
In response to the shocking altercation, one agent, who wishes to remain anonymous, has now said they are done working with the King Richard star's production company.
Smith took home the Best Actor award last Sunday for his performance in the Serena and Venus Williams biopic.
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Having co-founded the production company with wife Jada back in 2019, Westbrook has since gone onto produce several TV series, including Cobra Kai, Bel Air, and Pinkett Smith's talk show Red Table Talk.
The agent told The Wrap: “I’m not giving Westbrook any projects. And I may even blow up the ones that I have that are currently in negotiations.
"What’s Westbrook without Will? Nothing."
While Smith did eventually apologise to Rock for his actions, he didn't do so until the next day, which the agent takes issue with.
They also condemn the Academy for not escorting the 53-year-old off the premises after the slap, as he was instead allowed to collect his Best Actor award later that same night.
They added: “Look, if my kids did this in school, they’d be suspended.
"If I did this at an event, I’d be escorted out, if not arrested — regardless if they press charges.
“[Smith] got treated like a god, and he’s not. None of these people are.
"Will Packer handled [it] wrong, the Academy didn’t do s***, and the speech was horrific to watch.
"Plus, [Smith] didn’t even apologise to Chris Rock. And then partied all night.”
New footage has since emerged of the slapping incident, where Pinkett Smith's reaction can clearly be seen.
In Smith's public apology for the incident, he said: "Violence in all of its forms is poisonous and destructive.
"My behaviour at last night’s Academy Awards 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 and I reacted emotionally.
"I would like to publicly apologise to you, Chris. I was out of line and I was 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."
LADbible has contacted Westbrook Media for a comment.