Photo: Neilson Barnard/Getty
Sean “Diddy” Combstried to do what he could in the moments afterWill Smith’s shocking on-stage altercation withChris Rockat the 94th Academy Awards on Sunday, a friend of the music mogul tells PEOPLE.
After Smith, 53, struck Rock, 57, across the face in response to the comedian’s joke aboutJada Pinkett Smith, Diddy, 52,took the stage to honorFrancis Ford Coppola’sThe Godfathertrilogy.
However, given the unforeseen events that happened before Diddy introduced Coppola,Al Pacino, and Robert DeNiro, the Grammy Award winner had to change up his speech last minute.
“Diddy was about to go on stage and he was memorizing the names of the [Oscars] producers [Will Packer and Shayla Cowan], as he wanted to acknowledge them,” Diddy’s friend tells PEOPLE. “Then everything changed in an instant.”
“He had to try and lighten the room with his words. [What he said] was unrehearsed.”
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The source says Diddy wanted to “bring the two men together” and “remind everyone why we were all there –– to celebrate film.”
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“He was trying to bring love to the world, say something to heal the moment, bring everyone back why we were there and celebrate the awards.”
Chris Rock; Will Smith.Getty (2)
“I did not know that this was going to be the most exciting Oscars ever,” Diddy said after Smith and Rock’s clash. “Okay, Will and Chris – we’re going to solve that like family at [Beyoncé and JAY-Z’s] Gold party. But right now we’re moving on with love.”
PEOPLE confirms neither man ended up attending the star-studded bash at the Chateau Marmont.
After things settled down, the source tells PEOPLE, “He went up to them both privately to have a few words. I think Chris was in shock, Diddy tried to give him encouraging words and then he went over to Will at his seat.”
RELATED VIDEO: HowWill SmithSmacking Chris Rock atthe Oscars— and the Aftermath — Unfolded
Thealtercation between the two starsoccurred after Rock, who was introducing the award for Best Documentary, joked to Smith’s wife in the audience, “Jada, I love ya.G.I. Jane 2, can’t wait to see ya.”
TheGirls Tripstar lives with alopecia, which causes bald spots and hair loss.
Liz McNeil
source: people.com
