Chris Rock made sure Will Smith stayed at Oscars after slap reveals Oscars insider

Comic Chris Rock was the reason Will Smith was not asked to immediately leave the Oscars after that infamous slap - The Mirror can exclusively reveal.

Rock insisted that Smith remain inside the theater despite the horrific attack seen by hundreds of millions of fans on TV worldwide, just two years ago.

The revelation has emerged from Oscars' long term collaborator and show writer and entertainer Bruce Vilanch. Respected Academy veteran Vilanch admits that he felt Smith, who just revived his career with number one movie success in Bad Boys Ride Or Die , should have been evicted from the Dolby Theater in 2022.

In an exclusive on-camera interview, Vilanch served up the inside take on the "most shocking thing to happen" at Tinseltown's biggest night in decades. And Vilanch called out ABC executives over the scandal which he feels was "very very badly handled on the show that year that capitalized on how bad it was."

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The two-time Emmy winning writer, performer and actor, detailed his inside knowledge of "that moment" at the Hollywood Museum REAL to REEL exhibition launch. Vilanch revealed: "He was not asked to leave. Chris said he didn't want him to leave because they felt he was going to win.

"They maybe should have asked him to leave. They maybe should have said something about it. And his speech was kind of incoherent. They were absent," Vilanch continued. "They were AWOL when the whole thing was going on. They all ran around the theatre, but didn't make any decisions at all."

Smith attacked Rock when he joked he was looking forward to a sequel to G.I. Jane starring wife Jada Pinkett. He added: "keep my wife's name out of your f---ing mouth.” Oscars EP Will Packer says he expected Smith to apologize when winning Best Actor, but Rock wanted to "just get past this". The LAPD officers were also allegedly present at the ceremony and were "prepared" to arrest Smith but Rock decided not to press charges.

Vilanch believes that Smith's subsequent ten-year ban from the Oscars as punishment "could be right". He added that Smith, 55, has some steps to take before being allowed to return to the biggest night in Hollywood. But he is confident that the talented former rapper will make awards worthy movies in the future.

"Everybody is wise on keeping him on the down low for a few years and then he will do something that will be award worthy and they will not want to reconsider. He probably has to say more about it than he has. But I do not know exactly what that forum is."

Vilanch was not shocked that Smith’s June blockbuster Bad Boys Ride Or Die - the fourth film in the action franchise - was number one across many countries and has earned over $300m. He said: "Obviously there is an audience that always liked him and Martin Lawrence and that will go see that picture.”

Vilanch was the head writer for the Oscars 2000 to 2014, after being an Academy Awards program co-writer for the previous ten years.

The popular openly gay comic entertainer, who is friends with many A list stars and major showrunners, is a featured writer for the Tonys, Grammys, and Emmys.

Neither Rock nor Smith have spoken in depth about the dynamics of that moment and attack. Rock made a couple of jokes for a Netflix special and stand up tour on the incident, but has not admitted that he wanted Smith to stay.

Smith has apologized, while reports claim that Rock is 'unhappy' that BBROD made a joke of the slap. Vilanch spoke before he paid tribute to close friend Leslie Jordan at the Hollywood Museum REAL to REEL exhibition, which celebrates monumental LGBTQ+ characters, artists and moments in history.

Vilanch delivered a side-splitting speech mixing racy one liners with jokes about Jordan, who won an Emmy for Will and Grace.

"He was a dirty imp! He was the kind of crazy gay person from a southern family and sober alcoholic."

He recalled how they did a TV pilot for LOGO called Silver Foxes, which was a male "Golden Girls with gay guys" set in Palm Springs.

But their antics were so wild that bosses told them: "You are too gay for LOGO." He recalled how he told Jordan, who passed away in 2022 aged 67, that he was his "authentic" and became tearful about how Jordan made Will And Grace work with his "unique character" even though he could not get employment in mainstream Hollywood.

Vilanch admitted of his passing: "It was like Lucy had died...he has such an important place in the history of gay people in the history of film ,theatre and television."

Vilanch had the crowd in stitches on stage starting his speech: "For football fans out there. I am not Travis Kelce's mum. The resemblance is alarming but I am not her."

He added: "I did sit to the left of Whoopi Goldberg on Hollywood Squares - if that is possible.” Vilanch was introduced by Donelle Dadigan - the founder and president of the Hollywood Museum - who organized the salute to the LGBTQ+ community's contributions to the entertainment industry at the 11th annual "Real to Reel: Portrayals and Perceptions of LGBTQ+s in Hollywood" exhibit.

This educational, entertaining and informative retrospective of LGBTQ+ images in film and television featuring costumes, props, photos, and iconic imagery tells the story of the milestones and influence LBGTQ+ characters and plot lines have in Hollywood from early stereotypes to modern day representations.

The exhibit revisits monumental LGBTQ+ moments in history with exhibit items that include a Who's Who in LGBTQ+ entertainment costumes, props and memorabilia. Also highlighted in the exhibit will be special costumes from this year's Honoree Leslie Jordan.

For more details visit www.TheHollywoodMuseum.com .