>> that they were about to physically remove will smith. and i had not been a part of those conversations, and so i immediately went to the academy leadership that was on-site and i said chris rock doesn't want that. >> reporter: packer says he and other producers were hoping will smith would go onstage in his acceptance speech and make it better. >> art imitates life. i look like the crazy father like they said but love will make you do crazy things. >> reporter: but smith wouldn't apologize to rock for another 24 hours, in a written statement. >> didn't nail it in terms of a conciliatory acceptance speech in that moment, who then continued to be in the room. >> reporter: will packer says will smith apologized to him the next day. packerer says the energy in the room was amazing, and that that moment sucked all the energy out. he says it was like someone poured concrete in the room. packer says chris rock saved the