Have you been able to watch a Will Smith movie since the infamous slap at the Oscars? If you’re having trouble tuning in, you’re not alone. According to sports pundit Stephen A. Smith, a lot of people are finding it hard to separate the actor from the man who slapped Chris Rock on live television during the Oscars.
Smith expressed his thoughts on the situation that has generated conversations and reactions on the internet.
It’s a valid question, especially considering the impact that the incident had on Smith’s public image. The actor, known for his charismatic roles in popular films like “Bad Boys” and “Men in Black,” shocked the world when he physically assaulted Rock at the Oscars over a joke about his wife, Jada Pinkett Smith.
Stephen A. Smith has a lot to say about Will Smith following the (extremely successful both critically and commercially) release of his and Martin Lawrence’s Bad Boys: Ride or Die.
The fourth installment in the Bad Boys franchise, as you’ve no doubt heard by now, stacked up more than $100 million at the global box office during its opening weekend, all while garnering largely positive reviews in the process. Put another way, the general public seems more than ready to again embrace Big Will at the top-tier movie star level, having long ago left The Slap in the proverbial rearview. Stephen A. Smith, however, feels differently.
During a recent segment on his show, Smith first told viewers he “will never stop being a Will Smith fan” and will “in all likelihood” be seeing the new Bad Boys film in theaters. But the rest of his segment, which began with the host pointing out a photo he and Will took together during the actor’s Concussion era, sees Smith going in a more critical direction.
In short, Smith says he wants to see “an actual sit-down interview” focused on the Oscar-winning actor’s Chris Rock slap. According to Smith, Rock “will never get over that, ever” and is thus “damaged.” The actor’s decision to slap the comedian, he added, “tarnished” the evening in question in 2022, at least from his perspective.
“We know you wouldn’t have smacked Ricky Gervais, Bill Maher, Bill Burr or a host of others,” Smith, who more specifically argued that the Fresh Prince alum should “sit down and talk to the Black community,” said over the weekend. “We know you wouldn’t have done that. No apology necessary. I’m just saying a lot of folks ain’t get over that. A lot of folks find it hard to just go to the movies to watch you. I’m one of those people.”
Elsewhere, Smith also (ultimately inaccurately) predicted a fall for Ride or Die’s box office dollars. The First Take personality also told viewers he’s “not nearly as interested” in seeing a new Will-starring blockbuster as he is in seeing “an actual sit-down interview.” He’s also not done with this topic at large, as he was teasing more on the horizon as of Sunday evening.
As we continue to grapple with the aftermath of the slap heard around the world, it’s clear that the incident has left a lasting impact on how audiences perceive Will Smith. Whether or not viewers can separate the man from his on-screen personas remains to be seen, but one thing is certain – the conversation surrounding the actor’s actions is far from over.
Flip to the next page for Stephen A. Smith speak and fans’ reactions…
