Will Smith is finally opening up again about the aftermath of the infamous Oscars slap that shocked the world in 2022.
In a new interview with the Associated Press (March 21), the actor and rapper responded to questions about his 10-year ban from the Academy Awards following the on-stage altercation with Chris Rock.
When asked what he plans to do moving forward in light of the ban, Will responded thoughtfully:
“I am looking to be the best human I can possibly be and I’m gonna take what I get with that.”
Smith added that the past couple of years have been deeply introspective for him:
“I’ve taken the last couple of years to really do a deep dive on the parts of me that may or may not have been in that level of certainty and asking those deep, scary internal questions.”
The I Am Legend star also addressed public criticism, including remarks from Jim Carrey, who previously said Will “cracked under pressure” and was “living beyond his bandwidth.” Will responded with a reflective take on identity and growth:
“There’s a small concept of myself that can get to the end of his bandwidth. But if I back up, there’s an infinite space… where my bandwidth is the bandwidth of life itself.”
He continued, saying he’s trying to move beyond being “a narrow band of things” and is learning to “give myself permission to be wider in the truth of who and what I actually am.”
Stephen A. Smith Wants More
Sports analyst Stephen A. Smith has also weighed in, expressing disappointment despite being a long-time supporter of Will Smith. On his YouTube channel, Smith said he believes Will should address the Black community directly, particularly because he believes Chris Rock is still “damaged” by the incident:
“We know you wouldn’t have smacked Ricky Gervais, Bill Maher, Bill Burr or a host of others,” Smith said. “A lot of folks ain’t over that. I’m one of them.”
Smith later doubled down on his comments via X, writing:
“Yep. I said it. But I have some additional thoughts—especially after talking to my man Charlie Mack.”
Will Smith’s Movie Comeback
Despite the controversy, Will Smith’s return to the big screen with Bad Boys: Ride or Die was a commercial success. According to Variety, the fourth installment of the franchise earned:
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$56 million in U.S. theaters during opening weekend
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$48.6 million internationally
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For a global total of $104.6 million
This marks Will’s first movie release since the Oscars incident and signals that, while public opinion may still be mixed, his box office appeal remains strong.
