Los Angeles sheriffs were seen visiting the home of Will Smith Tuesday, two days after the actor slapped Chris Rock on-stage during the 2022 Oscars.
Officers were spotted driving into the gates of the Smiths Calabasas mansion in a marked patrol car at 2:40 p.m. Tuesday, Splash News reported as they snapped photos of the police vehicle.
Deputy Lizette Salcon, a spokesperson for the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, told Page Six that police arrived after someone reported a drone flying through the ritzy neighborhood, but did not confirm if the Smiths called in the complaint, or another neighbor close by.
“We just sent that unit over there to try to locate the drone and see if there was a paparazzi or what was going on,” Salcon told us, “but when the deputies got there, they weren’t able to locate the drone. It had already left the area.”
While Rock, 57, has decided not to press charges, many have wondered if the “King Richard” actor, 53, would face legal consequences for physically attacking the comedian over a G.I. Jane joke aimed at Smith’s wife, actress Jada Pinkett Smith — who suffers from hair loss condition alopecia.
“The [Los Angeles] city attorney could bring charges based upon the evidence without necessarily relying upon the victim,” Steve Cooley, the Los Angeles County District Attorney from 2000 to 2012, told The Post Tuesday.
“The victim does not control whether or not a prosecutor should file charges,” Cooley continued, “However, charges actually can and should be filed because the offense was against the state of California. It’s not Chris Rock versus Will Smith in a criminal matter. The LAPD and the city attorney should not close the door on what was an obvious criminal offense and is easily provable.”
Will apologized to Rock via Instagram Monday evening, sharing, “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 apologize 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.”
Jada was brief in her public reaction to the incident, simply sharing, “This is a season for healing and I’m here for it,” via Instagram.
Rock has yet to respond to the hoopla surrounding the evening, while The Academy has expressed its disappointment in the “Hitch” star and will be moving forward with an investigation.
“The Academy condemns the actions of Mr. Smith at last night’s show,” the organization wrote in a statement shared via social media on Monday.
“We have officially started a formal review around the incident and will explore further action and consequences in accordance with our Bylaws, Standards of Conduct and California law.”
Reps for Smith and Rock have yet to return our request for comment.
