Following this year’s more than eventful 94th Annual Academy Awards, its producer Will Packer is making it clear that there is nothing that will ever get him to produce another Oscars. The declaration came days after Will Smith apologized to Chris Rock for the first time publicly since he walked onstage and slapped the comedian while after he made a joke about his wife, Jada Pinkett Smith’s shaved head.
During a recent appearance on “The Breakfast Club” for his new film ‘Beast,’ the producer admitted that he would not take the gig should the opportunity present itself when now-former host Angela Yee asked about the chances of producing the annual ceremony next year.
“There’s nothing. There’s no way. [They could] offer me anything. There’s no way I’d do it, ” the Hollywood executive said around the 32-minute mark. When asked why, the “Night School” producer explained, “I’ve done it.” Charlamagne Tha God jokingly suggested that the controversial actor may have had something to do with his decision.
However, the 41-year-old executive maintained that it’s just something he’s crossed off his list, but he admitted it’s tough, equating it to “producing ten movies at once.”
Packer noted that “it’s an incredibly labor-intensive process.” He added, “And I like poured everything into it, you know what I mean. Idris [Elba] is one of the first people to text me after it all, you know, went down, and he just said like something to the effect of ‘Heavy is the head that wears the crown. Stay up, king.’ That’s my guy; he does that.”
During an interview with “Entertainment Tonight,” Packer also addressed Smith’s video in which the “King Richard” star answered the burning questions many online users have been wondering, including whether his wife ordered him to assault Rock — which he denied.
“I love the fact that he’s being so transparent about his process,” Packer said of Smith’s video statements. “Clearly, he is going through his own personal rehabilitation.”
He also shared that he was pulling for both Rock and Smith and wishing the Oscar winner the best. “I’m pulling for him to continue his own process, but I think this is for him. He needs to do it.”
