There have been many calls from the public to arrest Will Smith for assault after millions witnessed him slap Chris Rock across the face on live TV (we don't think you need us to go over that again), but the problem is...that's not really how any of that works.

Cops couldn't arrest Will Smith because they didn't see the slap...which, at first, sounds like total BS, becuase COME ON, literally EVERYONE in the COUNTRY has seen that slap at this point - some people are getting it tattooed! But what that really means is they didn't see it in person.

In the state of California, in order to arrest a person for misdemeanor battery - which this was - a police officer has to actually see the offense take place. The only police officer at the entire Oscars ceremony, apparently, (which feels wild to me, by the way, I've seen more security at a school drumline competition,) was backstage, and didn't actually see the slap take place. He therefore couldn't make any arrests on that account.

As soon as he heard what happened, however, he did head straight to Chris Rock's dressing room to ask if he wanted to press charges, because that's the other way that officer could have arrested him - but, as we now well know, Chris Rock did not want to do that at all. 

So, the only recourse that would have worked otherwise is if one of the audience members, that night, had asked that officer to make a citizens' arrest of Will Smith, because:

"[Under California Law] a private person may arrest another for a public offense committed or attempted in his presence." 

But nobody in the audience has asked for that. Apparently, hundreds of concerned citizens, not quite understanding the law, have tried to, but seeing a violent act on live TV does not count as witnessing it, so that doesn't work.

So we now know that - as Chris Rock wishes it, need we remind you - that no, there's no way Will Smith can be arrested for this. Perhaps it's drawing near the time we can put this whole matter to bed?

Tags: chris rock Will Smith