Will Smith

Will Smith Jokes About White Actor Spitting On Him In “Emancipation” Ad-Lib

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It’s a story that Will Smith told back in December on Red Table Talk, and he revived it for the 14th annual African American Film Critics Association Awards. Since last year’s violent display at the Oscars, Smith has been under scrutiny, but he’s given his apologies and focused on his career. After taking time away from the spotlight to gather himself amid backlash, Smith tackled one of the heaviest films of his career: Emancipation. In Antoine Fuqua’s film, he stars as Peter, an enslaved man inspired by the real-life “Whipped Peter” image.

Smith was bestowed the Beacon Award at the award ceremony, and during his speech, he touched on a spitting moment during filming. “‘Emancipation’ was the individual most difficult film of my entire career. It was all outdoors, that is true,” he joked as onlookers chuckled. “It’s really difficult to transport a modern mind to that time period. It’s difficult to imagine that, that level of inhumanity.”

Will Smith’s Costar Spat On Him

CALIFORNIA, UNITED STATES – MARCH 1: Will Smith at the 14th Annual AAFCA Awards held at Beverly Wilshire, A Four Seasons Hotel on March 1, 2023 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Mark Von Holden/Variety via Getty Images)

Smith’s costar, presumably Steven Ogg, decided to ad-lib during a scene. “It was the second day of shooting, and 110 degrees,” he said. “I was in a scene with one of the white actors, and we had our lines, and the actor decided to ad-lib. So, we’re doing the scene. I did my line. He did his line. And then he ad-libbed and spit in the middle of my chest. If I had pearls on, I definitely would’ve clutched them. I wanted to say, ‘Antoineeeeee,’ but I stopped, and I realized that Peter couldn’t have called the director.”

“I sat there, and I took a deep breath, and we did take two,” Smith continued. His demeanor suggested the actor would try it again for the next take. “The actor felt that the ad-lib had gone well. So, we do take two. I do my line. He does his line and spits in the middle of my chest again. I just held in that moment, and there was a part—it makes me teary right now. There was a part of me that was grateful that I got to really understand. And then, in the distance, I hear a voice, and Antoine says, ‘Hey, let’s do a take without the spit.’” He joked, “And in that moment, I knew that God was real.”

Grateful To Apple For Moving Forward

“I want to thank Gil and AAFCA. I want to thank all of you in this room for doing what you do, keeping our stories alive,” Smith further stated. “I want to thank Apple, because the budget was one thing. And then the budget was another thing. And then the budget was another thing. And Apple never flinched. It was the first time I had heard from a studio that the story was more important than how much it costs to get it done. Check out the trailer for Emancipation and Will Smith’s speech above.

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Chris Rock To Address Will Smith Slap During Netflix Special: Report

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It’s been nearly a year since Will Smith slapped the taste out of Chris Rock’s mouth during the Oscars. The infamous moment continues to haunt both actors to this day. Smith remains rather lowkey in the public eye, though he’s slowly reintegrating into Hollywood, thanks to the success of movies like Emancipation. Rock, however, has continued to dominate the stand-up circuit. However, it’s unlikely that we’ll see him take on hosting or presenting duties at any award show in the near future.

Chris Rock’s currently gearing up for his big Netflix special, Selective Outrage. The groundbreaking stand-up set will mark Netflix’s first live-streamed comedy show since its inception. They already announced that Rock expanded the line-up to include revered comics like Jerry Seinfeld, David Spade, Amy Schumer, and Dana Carvey. The special airs on March 4th at 7 p.m. PT/10 p.m ET, and it sounds like it’s on pace to do some massive numbers. If so, we could definitely expect Netflix to host more live events in the future. 

Chris Rock Will Address Oscar Moment 

HOLLYWOOD, CALIFORNIA – MARCH 27: Will Smith appears to slap Chris Rock onstage during the 94th Annual Academy Awards at Dolby Theatre on March 27, 2022 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Neilson Barnard/Getty Images)

Chris Rock and Will Smith are certainly not on good terms, but the former appears ready to publicly address the elephant in the room. According to Page Six sources, the comedian is preparing to open up about the situation for the first time publicly. “If you were waiting to see Rock on tour address the infamous Will Smith slap situation . . . the comedian is waiting to spill his humorous take on it on his live Netflix stand-up special,” the source told the publication. 

It seems as though we’ll finally get to hear Chris Rock’s side of the story. Though he’s referenced the incident during his recent tour, calling Will the “softest” person and nicknaming him “Suge Smith,” he hasn’t publicly discussed the matter. Smith previously extended an olive branch but revealed that Rock wasn’t willing to open up a conversation with him. Perhaps, the upcoming Netflix special will help the two put this situation in the past. Whether or not they’ll ever be cool again remains unseen. Chris Rock’s Selective Outrage takes place at Hippodrome Theatre in Baltimore this Friday. Will you be tuning in?

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Will Smith Reacts To NAACP Image Award Win

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Will Smith shared his reaction to winning the NAACP Image Award for Best Actor on Instagram, Sunday. It’s Smith’s first major award win since infamously slapping Chris Rock at the 94th Annual Academy Awards in 2022. Smith says that he’s “absolutely humbled” by the latest win. The honor came in response to his performance in Emancipation.

“WOW!! NAACP!! I am absolutely humbled by this!! I want to share this with my entire #Emancipation family – @antoinefuqua, @charmainebingwa, Ben, Bob, Jon the whole team at @westbrook and @appletvplus…,” Smith wrote on IG, before adding,” I am so proud of the work we put into this film.” From there he continued: “I would like to thank the NAACP for honoring our film! @derricknaacp – you and your entire organization – and the work you do all year round – is truly important, so to be recognized by y’all – it means a lot. Also – can we give my girl @queenlatifah her flowers? She is KILLIN’ it as host tonight!”

Will Smith At The 2022 Oscars

HOLLYWOOD, CALIFORNIA – MARCH 27: Will Smith accepts the Actor in a Leading Role award for ‘King Richard’ onstage during the 94th Annual Academy Awards at Dolby Theatre on March 27, 2022 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Neilson Barnard/Getty Images)

Emancipation follows Will Smith as Peter, a runaway slave headed for Baton Rouge while being chased by slave catchers and their dogs. The film is based on the real-life story of “Whipped Peter,” who became known by being the subject of famous photographs circulated in the abolitionist movement during the American Civil War. Smith explained why he chose the role while speaking with The Hollywood Reporter, last October. “Throughout my career, I’ve turned down many films that were set in slavery,” Smith told the outlet. “I never wanted to show us like that. And then this picture came along. And this is not a film about slavery. This is a film about freedom, this is a film about resilience, this is a film about faith.”

Following Emancipation, Smith is currently working on Bad Boys 4. Smith and co-star Martin Lawrence announced the next installment in the franchise, last month. The film is in pre-production and has yet to receive an official release date.

Will Smith’s Reaction

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The Oscars Reportedly Created Crisis Team After Will Smith’s Slap

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will smith slapping chris rock

The Academy Awards still deal with the repercussions of Will Smith slapping Chris Rock at last year’s show. In fact, under their new leadership, they’ve even created a crisis team to handle any future fiascos like the slap.

Last July, Bill Kramer became the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences CEO. Since then, he has faced two major issues: declining viewership and the slap. In response to the slap, Kramer created a crisis team to stop incidents before they escalated.

In an interview with TIME magazine, Kramer was asked what measures had been put in place for this year’s Academy Awards to ensure that no unexpected situations arise. He said a good host, such as Jimmy Kimmel, who is hosting this year, is good because they are used to dealing with live TV and can navigate unexpected situations. He also talked about the formation of the crisis team.

“But we have a whole crisis team, something we’ve never had before, and many plans in place. We’ve run many scenarios. So it is our hope that we will be prepared for anything that we may not anticipate right now but that we’re planning for just in case it does happen.”

Kramer said that the crisis team has been running possible scenarios that could take place during the event. He even admitted that last year’s show’s events are the reason for their changes.

“Because of last year, we’ve opened our minds to the many things that can happen at the Oscars. But these crisis plans—the crisis communication teams and structures we have in place—allow us to say this is the group that we have to gather very quickly. This is how we all come together. This is the spokesperson. This will be the statement. And obviously depending on the specifics of the crisis, and let’s hope something doesn’t happen and we never have to use these, but we already have frameworks in place that we can modify.”

You can read the full interview here.

The post The Oscars Reportedly Created Crisis Team After Will Smith’s Slap appeared first on The Source.

Will Smith Slap Reportedly Forced The Oscars To Create A Crisis Team

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Bill Kramer took over as CEO of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences last July. However, since then, he has spent a lot of time managing serious issues. In the past two years, the Oscars ratings are lower than they’ve ever been in the history of the award show. Now, while re-engaging viewers, Kramer has to contend with one of the biggest television scandals of last year. It’s been almost a year since Will Smith slapped Chris Rock at last year’s Oscars. However, the Academy is still dealing with the repercussions. Kramer says that there’s now a “crisis team” in place to handle unwanted surprises during the ceremony.

In an interview with Time Magazine, the outlet asked Kramer what measures are being put in place this year to prepare for potential surprised. For one, they have Jimmy Kimmel hosting the Oscars, who is used to dealing with live TV, where things don’t always go as planned. According to Kramer, a host who can navigate unexpected moments is crucial to the show’s success. Kramer went on to say, “But we have a whole crisis team, something we’ve never had before, and many plans in place. We’ve run many scenarios. So it is our hope that we will be prepared for anything that we may not anticipate right now but that we’re planning for just in case it does happen.”

The Oscars 2022

Will Smith appears to slap Chris Rock onstage during the 94th Annual Academy Awards at Dolby Theatre on March 27, 2022 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Neilson Barnard/Getty Images)

The “crisis team” has reportedly been running possible scenarios and solutions to what could occur during the show. When asked about what those scenarios look like, Kramer explained how the crisis team will come together for various issues. “Because of last year, we’ve opened our minds to the many things that can happen at the Oscars,” Kramer said. “But these crisis plans—the crisis communication teams and structures we have in place—allow us to say this is the group that we have to gather very quickly. This is how we all come together. This is the spokesperson. This will be the statement. He also said that, depending on the crisis itself, they “already have frameworks in place that we can modify.”

Time also mentioned how the President of the Academy recently said their response to the Will Smith slap was inadequate. Then, the interviewer asked what an accurate response would have looked like. According to Kramer, people are absolutely looking at that as the award show comes closer. He hopes they can move swiftly and compassionately to engage with members and nominees in a transparent way. He says, “Let’s hope something like this never happens again—but we could have moved more quickly. And I’m not just talking about the night of the show. This is really our response after the show, and how we spoke about it, and how we talked to Will and Chris, and our hosts and our members.”

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Will Smith Jokes About What His Oscar Thinks Of Him

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Prepare to rehash one of the biggest moments in The Academy Awards show history as the ceremony approaches. In just a few weeks, Hollywood’s elite will gather together again to praise one another’s creative efforts. Smith won’t be in attendance after last year’s scandal, as The Academy banned him from the ceremony for ten years. We remember when the Oscar winner became upset with Chris Rock, stormed the stage, and slapped his former friend. The fallout was heavy, and Smith found his blemish-free reputation muddled.

After taking some time away from the spotlight, Smith returned to promote his acclaimed film, Emancipation. The press tour was difficult, but Smith persevered through the jeers. Now, it looks as if he can joke about his snafu somewhat, and he used a viral video to do so. On Instagram, Smith uploaded a clip of himself taking advice from a social media user.

What Would Will Smith’s Oscars Say?
HOLLYWOOD, CA – March 27, 2022. Chris Rock and Will Smith onstage during the show at the 94th Academy Awards at the Dolby Theatre at Ovation Hollywood on Sunday, March 27, 2022. (Myung Chun / Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)

The woman said, “This is literally—it sounds insane, but it will change your life. And by ‘change your life,’ I mean it will make your life so much more interesting and fun. Did you know that you can pick any object, look at it, and ask it what it thinks of you? So, for example, you can pick up a pen and ask it how it sees you or what it thinks of you. And you will get an answer in your mind from your intuition.”

She goes on to list objects like cars and money before Smith has a thoughtful look on his face. Then, he reaches off-camera and brings his Oscar to the forefront. As it seems he’s about to ask the loaded question, the camera cuts out. Smith’s comment section was quickly flooded with playful takes, and because Instagram now has gifs, it was a sight to see.

Will Smith Apologized About Unfortunate Oscars Moment

Following “The Slap,” Smith formally apologized to The Academy, Chris Rock, and fans. Rock has continued to perform comedy acts across the globe and reportedly touched on being assaulted at the Oscars. It is unclear if Rock will make a return to The Academy Awards on March 12, but viewers will be searching for references to last year’s controversy.

Will The “I Am Legend 2” Film With Michael B. Jordan Redeem Will Smith?

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Will Smith and MBJ

The sequel to the 2007 film I Am Legend is back in the works, this time, with Will Smith and Michael B. Jordan. Filmmaker Akiva Goldman recently revealed the news in a recent interview with Deadline. With I Am Legend 2  officially in the works, viewers are wondering if the film with Will Smith alongside Michael B. […]

The post Will The “I Am Legend 2” Film With Michael B. Jordan Redeem Will Smith? appeared first on SOHH.com.

Will Smith’s “I Am Legend” Sequel: Details Released

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It has been over 15 years since Will Smith took to the big screen in the 2007 hit film, I Am Legend. According to sources, Warner Brothers will be developing a brand new sequel for the film. Will Smith will be reprising his role as Robert Neville and producing the film, as well. Additionally, Warner Brothers added Michael B. Jordan to the cast and producers list. His recent history of filmography includes, but is not limited to, Black Panther, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, Creed I-III, and Just Mercy.

Akiva Goldsman adapted the famous Richard Matheson novel from 1954 in 2007. He will be returning to write the film’s sequel. When speaking to Deadline this week, Goldsman explained that the follow-up to I Am Legend is possible after all these years. Fans recall that in the first I Am Legend film, Smith’s character, Robert, dies saving the cure. So, that begs the question: how could he possibly be returning to screens? The answer comes from the film’s alternate ending.

“I Am Legend”

Actor Will Smith arrives at the Los Angeles World Premiere of Warner Bros. Pictures ‘Focus’ at TCL Chinese Theatre on February 24, 2015 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Axelle/Bauer-Griffin/FilmMagic)

In the alternative ending to I Am Legend, Dr. Robert Neville lives on in the universe of the film. Goldsman explained how the film will work in a statement. He said, “This will start a few decades later than the first. I’m obsessed with The Last of Us, where we see the world just post-apocalypse but also after a 20-30-year lapse. You see how the earth reclaims the world, and there’s something beautiful in the question of, as man steps away from being the primary tenant, what happens? That will be especially visual in New York. I don’t know if they’ll climb up to the empire state building, but the possibilities are endless.”

Goldsman added, “We trace back to the original Matheson book, and the alternate ending as opposed to the released ending in the original film. What Matheson was talking about was that man’s time on the planet as the dominant species had come to an end. That’s a really interesting thing we’re going to get to explore. There will be a little more fidelity to the original text.” I Am Legend‘s sequel is one of Warner Bros.’ top priorities as they reunite with Goldman’s company to create films. The pair will additionally create an upcoming sequel to Constantine, starring Keanu Reeves.

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Academy President Calls Will Smith Slap “Unacceptable,” Response Was “Inadequate”

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We’re quickly approaching this year’s Oscars ceremony and unsurprisingly, Will Smith is a hot topic. On year ago, the acclaimed actor became irate with Chris Rock in th middle of the show’s airing. He was seen taking to the Oscars stage and slapping Rock before returning to his seat. Smith was able to finish out the show in the audience and even took home the award for Best Actor. It was a bittersweet moment as his accomplishment was applauded while simultaneously facing ridicule.

The controversy that unfolded afterward was the biggest fallout of Smith’s career. Rock still hasn’t directly addressed the incident, and it’s rumored that won’t happen until his next Netflix special airs. Recently, The Academy hosted its 2023 Oscars Nominees Luncheon, and during the event, its president Janet Yang spoke about last year’s controvery.

US actor Will Smith accepts the award for Best Actor in a Leading Role for “King Richard” onstage during the 94th Oscars at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood, California on March 27, 2022. (Photo by Robyn Beck / AFP) (Photo by ROBYN BECK/AFP via Getty Images)
Read More: Vivica Fox Cries Over Will Smith Oscars Slap, Says Jada Has Taken “No Accountability”

Hollywood’s elite was in attendance to celebrate the March ceremony. “I’m sure you all remember we experienced an unprecedented event at the Oscars,” said Yang. “What happened onstage was fully unacceptable and the response from our organization was inadequate. We learned from this that the Academy must be fully transparent and accountable in our actions, and particularly in times of crisis you must act swiftly, compassionately and decisively for ourselves and for our industry. You should and can expect no less form us going forward.”

Immediately following the slapping incident, Smith released a statement apologizing for his behavior. His future with The Academy hung in the balance until they revealed the actor’s punishment. Not only would his membership be revoked, but he was banned from attending the Oscars for 10 years. It was a blow to Smith, who has been hailed for his unblemished Hollywood record until that time.

HOLLYWOOD, CALIFORNIA – MARCH 27: Will Smith appears to slap Chris Rock onstage during the 94th Annual Academy Awards at Dolby Theatre on March 27, 2022 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Neilson Barnard/Getty Images)
Read More: Will Smith Opens Up About Oscar’s Slap: “Hurt People Hurt People”

“The 94th Oscars were meant to be a celebration of the many individuals in our community who did incredible work this past year,” The Academy previously said in a statement last year. “However, those moments were overshadowed by the unacceptable and harmful behavior we saw Mr. Smith exhibit on stage. During our telecast, we did not adequately address the situation in the room. For this, we are sorry. This was an opportunity for us to set an example for our guests, viewers and our Academy family around the world, and we fell short — unprepared for the unprecedented.”

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Jaden’s MSFTrep Collection Inspired By Will Smith’s “Fresh Prince” Sunflower

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As the child of two Hollywood powerhouses, Jaden Smith pulls from his parents’ experiences as inspiration. As a teen, he partnered with his sister Willow to establish their own fashion brand. MSFTrep has pushed the envelope, much like his family often has, and the brand—also co-founded by actors Moises and Mateo Arias—is boasted as being a place for misfits to find a shelter of sorts.

We’ll get a further look at MSFTrep’s next installment sometime this month, and in an interview with Footwear News, Jaden spoke on being inspired by his father’s famed sitcom for the launch. While of the Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, Will Smith donned a sunflower costume in an earlier season, which was a look that has gone down in history. The “Trippy Summer” collection will also reportedly feature “bright psychedelic colors, twisted fonts, and nods to nature.”

LOS ANGELES, CA – DECEMBER 13: Will Smith (L) and Jaden Smith attend the LA Premiere of Netflix Films ‘BRIGHT’ on December 13, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Michael Kovac/Getty Images for Netflix)
Read More: Kid Cudi Celebrates 39th Birthday With Jaden Smith, Jenna Ortega & More

“I wanted to make people into plants and turn people into flowers. Because being one with nature is like reaching the highest level of consciousness,” said Jaden. In the Fresh Prince episode, Will was forced to dress up and perform with children in order to graduate from high school. He made the best of it and turned the production into a Hip Hop show—of sorts.

“It was super embarrassing for his character in the episode, but I thought it was an amazing idea of how to turn someone into a flower,” Jaden also shared. His collection doesn’t mimic his dad’s TV look, but it does serve as a generational connection. From one successful Smith to the next, one of Will’s best Fresh Prince memories lives on.

Read More: Jaden Smith Stands With Father Will Smith Following Chris Rock Slap

Although Jaden is close with his family, he also recognized at an early age that he wanted to remove himself from being boxed in. “I separated myself from everything that I’d known at the time and caught a different vibe,” he further said. “I needed that time to really have those solo thoughts and to think about stuff. It was a big part of me being who I am today.” Check out more from MSFTrep below.

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