The notorious slap made headlines after the 2022 Oscars that noticed Will Smith storm the stage reside and slap presenter Chris Rock throughout the face over a joke about his spouse Jada Pinkett-Smith.
Though many would possibly assume Will Smith would need to try to transfer the narrative needle away from the notorious 2022 Oscars slap that surprised the nation virtually as a lot because it did Chris Rock, he appeared to revisit the second in a latest freestyle rap.
The Dangerous Boys star just lately dropped by British DJ Charlie Sloth’s Hearth within the Sales space — a showcase for rappers to indicate off their lyrical creativity by dropping improvised freestyle raps — and he positively went there.
It got here when he hit the second verse, with Smith rapping, “I’m not the kind of man to maneuver in malicious methods / and I’m too grown to play infantile video games / For those who speaking loopy out your face up on the stage and disrespect me on the stage, anticipate me on the stage.”
He went on so as to add, “Jokers dish it out, cry foul when it’s time to take it / Metropolis filled with actual ones, wasn’t raised to faux it.”
Whereas Smith did not particularly say Rock’s title or element what got here to be generally known as “the slap” within the decidedly NSFW clip, it actually appears to be a reference to the second that no less than briefly derailed the main man’s profession, resulting in an apology, an Oscars ban, and him stepping again briefly.
Getty
How Will Smith Addresses ‘Difficult’ Jada Pinkett Smith Marriage on New Album
View Story
It is also not the primary time Smith has alluded to the surprising occasion in latest months. His March 2025 album launch Based mostly on a True Story, additionally options strains that seem to reference it, together with the opening monitor the place Smith raps, “Him and Jada each loopy, lady, what you talkin’ bout? / You higher maintain his spouse’s title out of your mouth.”
The triggering second got here throughout the 2022 ceremony with Smith sitting near the entrance of the stage after his efficiency within the 2021 movie King Richard. Smith’s spouse, Jada Pinkett-Smith, was by his aspect as Rock was introducing the Greatest Documentary class.
Throughout his introductory moments, Rock appeared to make a fast apart when he noticed Pinkett-Smith within the viewers. “Jada, I like you,” he stated. “G.I. Jane 2, cannot wait to see ya.”
G.I. Jane was a 1997 movie starring Demi Moore, together with her shaved head considered one of its most talked about parts on the time. Pinkett-Smith was confidently bald-headed on the 2022 Oscars, 4 years after she had opened up about dwelling with alopecia.
Will Smith Reunites with Recent Prince Costar Tatyana Ali to Recreate Their Personal ‘Anxiousness’ Dance
View Story
Following the joke, Smith bought out of his seat and walked as much as the stage, the place he abruptly slapped Rock arduous throughout the face earlier than returning to his seat and shouting repeatedly, “Hold my spouse’s title out your f–king mouth!”
“Will Smith simply smacked the s–t out of me,” Rock declared, leaving shocked followers unsure if this was some form of comedy bit. It wasn’t.
Within the weeks that adopted, Smith made a public apology for his actions with out mentioning Rock, whereas the standup comedian talked concerning the incident in his exhibits. Pinkett-Smith stated she felt there may very well be a connection to her 2016 boycott of the Oscars amid the #OscarsSoWhite controversy, when Rock was internet hosting the ceremony.
In the end, Smith resigned from the Academy and was hit with a 10-year ban, that means he can not attend any Academy-related occasions, just about or in real-life, for the length. His work can nonetheless be nominated.
