Creative Artists Agency (CAA) has denied reports that the company debated over the decision to drop Will Smith for slapping Chris Rock at the Oscars.
Earlier this week, the Daily Beast reported that CAA heads Bryan Lourd, Richard Lovett, and Kevin Huvane were divided over whether they should dump Smith from the agency’s client list following the slap heard around the world.
The internal debate reportedly took place during CAA’s leadership retreat at the Terranea Resort in Rancho Palos Verde, California. According to the report, Lourd believed CAA should part ways with Smith, while Lovett, who personally reps the actor, did not want to lose the King Richard star. A source added that Lovett was “frazzled” amid the fallout from the Oscars slap.
Daily Beast noted that CAA, who was previously associated with disgraced movie producer Harvey Weinstein, wanted to end up on the “right side of history,” ultimately choosing to keep Smith on board.
However, just a day after the report was published, a spokesperson for CAA confirmed to the Daily Beast that the company denies that any debate over Smith’s future with the agency ever took place.
“There is no truth to any of it,” the source said. “Simply never happened.”
The news arrives just days after Smith decided to resign from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences following his Oscars controversy.
“The list of those I have hurt is long and includes Chris, his family, many of my dear friends and loved ones, all those in attendance, and global audiences at home,” Smith said in a statement. “I betrayed the trust of the Academy. I deprived other nominees and winners of their opportunity to celebrate and be celebrated for their extraordinary work. I am heartbroken.”
He continued, “I want to put the focus back on those who deserve attention for their achievements and allow the Academy to get back to the incredible work it does to support creativity and artistry in film,” before concluding with “change takes time and I am committed to doing the work to ensure that I never again allow violence to overtake reason.”
