It has been over a year since the controversial slap that rocked the Oscar stage. The fallout from this slap is that Will Smith’s image as a wholesome household name and a Hollywood golden boy was forever changed. While Chris Rock brought up no charges against Smith, the aftermath of the on-stage attack on the comedian still continues to this day in the form of internet speculation. Many are now wondering if the public will ever again look at Smith as the fresh prince following the controversial and rather public attack against Rock.
The slap was seen around the world, though no one at the Dolby Theatre came in that night thinking that Smith was going to slap Rock for making a joke about Smith’s wife of 26 years, actor Jada Pinkett Smith. Many initially believed that the slap was a comedy bit after the fact; both Smith and Rock are actors, and they know how to fake a slap. However, those beliefs sent went up in flames after Rock announced, “Will Smith just smacked the sh*t out of me,” out loud for the world to see. And the fact that Will Smith was yelling profanities at the stage during a live broadcast also helped break the narrative that was a staged “joke” gone awry.
ABC staff cut the sound when Smith jumped on stage, but the audience could clearly hear the Bad Boys star shouting, “Keep my wife’s name out of your f*cking mouth!” No one among those present could believe what just happened. Smith’s publicist Meredith O’Sullivan, Oscars’ producer Will Packer, Academy CEO Dawn Hudson, and Academy president David Rubin all walked into a private room to discuss the matter. Rock’s manager, Jason Weinberg, left to deal with the LAPD, and the gravity of the situation wasn’t lost on anyone.
After being slapped by Smith, Rock appeared momentarily stunned, but he remained on stage, regained his composure, and continued to present the award for Best Documentary Feature. Despite the shocking nature of the incident, Rock carried on with the ceremony in a professional manner and left the stage following the presentation. Smith, on the other hand, won the award for Best Actor later in the evening for his role in King Richard — which also generated significant controversy and discussion in both media discourse and public circles.
The truth is that both Will and Jada Pinkett Smith have been the butt of the joke in regards to their marital status for the past three decades. Some of these stemmed from rumors and discussions about the nature of their relationship, including speculations about them having an open marriage. Others stemmed from Pinkett Smith’s Red Table Talk series, where she would often discuss personal and sometimes controversial topics with her family members.
One of those discussions was about the rumors regarding Pinkett Smith’s relationship with August Alsina, in which she described her involvement with the singer as an “entanglement” that occurred during a period when she and Will were separated. This particular revelation was highly publicized, leading to widespread discussions and even more public jokes aimed at the Smiths, particularly Will. Many believe that Rock’s joke was the law straw for Smith that led to his violent outburst.
And while Rock didn’t press any charges, he later eviscerated Smith and his family in his Selective Outrage live comedy on Netflix. Smith’s popularity with the public plunged after the incident. The actor was once ranked highly among Hollywood’s most popular and talented, standing shoulder to shoulder with likable greats such as Denzel Washington and Tom Hanks. But the slap has negatively impacted Smith’s popularity, not just with audiences but also among the movie studios and streaming services.
The popularity of both Will and Jada Pinkett Smith has waned among audiences and studios, and studios have been hesitant to jump back into business with Smith despite him being one of the industry’s biggest stars. The incident significantly impacted Smith’s demand in the industry, with Netflix putting the previously green-lit Fast and Loose project on pause. Those close to the deal between Netflix and Smith stated that the slap generated enough controversy on its own, and Netflix definitely wasn’t willing to be the icebreaker and get right back into working with Smith.
However, that changed once Sony green-lit Bad Boys 4. Subsequent to Sony’s decision, Netflix also decided to move forward with the big-budget project centered on a crime lord who suffers memory loss after an attack.
Those looking for a bargain by getting into business with a now-tarnished star are out of luck. Despite the slap and the controversy it caused, Smith remains one of the highest-paid actors in Hollywood, with sources stating he’s getting a $25 million quote on both the Bad Boys 4 and Netflix’s Fast and Loose.
While his popularity has taken a noticeable dip in the public eye — in fact, more like a free fall — recent polls suggest that 56% of respondents still like Smith. His popularity is finally rebounding after the infamous slap. Taking into account his formal apology, the fact that he’s still making movies, and the fact that he’s still one of the most popular and highly paid actors in Hollywood, we’d say that the public might be quick to forgive and forget Smith’s bad behavior, provided that he performs in a great enough role in a movie of substantial value.