Many have questioned why actor Will Smith was allowed to remain seated front row at the Academy Awards after he slapped comedian Chris Rock on live television. “Things unfolded in a way we could not have anticipated,” the academy said Wednesday.

“While we would like to clarify that Mr. Smith was asked to leave the ceremony and refused, we also recognize we could have handled the situation differently.”

But some sources are saying that Smith was never actually officially asked to leave. Ashleigh Banfield breaks it all down.