MOVIE NEWS – On March 27, 2022, the world watched live as a Hollywood actor walked onstage during the Oscars and slapped comedian Chris Rock across the face. That actor, Will Smith, was the leading contender for Best Actor that night—and the moment became one of the most infamous in awards show history.
Though the incident didn’t prevent him from winning the Oscar, it cast a long shadow over his career. The star of Bad Boys, The Pursuit of Happyness, and I Am Legend has now reflected on the slap, saying it forced him to confront the private parts of his identity he never showed the world. “The ‘Will Smith’ people knew was just the best of me. ‘Will Smith’ wasn’t allowed to be angry.”
Smith appeared on Revolt’s “Drink Champs” podcast to discuss his journey since that night. He spoke about the enduring Bad Boys franchise—whose latest installment, Bad Boys: Ride or Die, earned over $400 million at the global box office—and about how he withdrew from the spotlight after the incident:
“The last couple of years, I’ve really just shut it down. After the Oscars, I shut it down. I took a deep dive into myself. I examined every part of me I considered not for public view, right?
“There was a ‘Will Smith,’ there was an image, there was an identity, but it only showed the good stuff. It was only the best parts of me… The public never saw the other sides. ‘Will Smith’ wasn’t allowed to be upset.”
Three Years Since the Oscars Slap
It’s been three years since Smith struck Rock and followed it with the infamous demand: “Keep my wife’s name out your f***ing mouth.” At first, many viewers assumed it was staged. But as Rock pressed on with a strained smile, it became clear the moment was real. Smith has since continued to speak about hiding the more complicated pieces of himself:
“You never saw me not smiling, right? But you can probably imagine there were times I wasn’t smiling. It just wasn’t for public consumption… I’ve suppressed things. I’ve got fear. I’ve got confusion. I’ve got anger. I’ve got sadness.”
Though he accepted his Oscar tearfully and apologized during his speech, Smith’s career suffered significant setbacks. Multiple film projects were canceled, and the Academy barred him from attending events for ten years. He has since turned to music, releasing his first hip-hop album in two decades. “There were people unsure if they wanted to work with me,” he said of his musical comeback. That hesitation still defines how many see Smith—some welcome his redemption, while others feel he should remain “canceled.”
Reflecting on his internal reckoning, Smith concluded: “When I started facing those hidden parts of myself, something incredible happened. It was like I’d buried my anger, held it down, and then it burst out. And I said, ‘Okay, I’m not going to act like you don’t exist. I’m going to face you.’”
Source: MovieWeb
