Shocked? TMZ: Academy Lied About Asking Will Smith To Leave Oscars

(Los Angeles, CA) — A new TMZ report says the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences lied about asking Will Smith to leave the Oscars after he slapped Chris Rock. The Academy said Wednesday they asked Smith to leave the theater after the slap, but he refused to do so. TMZ said there were debates between commercial breaks about whether to kick Smith out, but no decision was made until an Academy official approached him reportedly saying “we do not want you to leave.” Smith walked on stage and slapped Rock after a joke he made about his wife.