Now, here is the story of how Will Smith’s life was turned upside down – and how he appears to be working hard to rectify it.
Smith has been promoting his latest effort, “Bad Boys: Ride or Die,” the fourth installment in his film trilogy with Martin Lawrence.
It is not his first film, but he slapped Chris Rock on stage at the 2022 Academy Awards after the comedian made a joke about Smith’s wife, Jada Pinkett Smith. However, the summer popcorn film is outperforming his other ventures that came out shortly after the tragedy.
Smith’s historical slave drama “Emancipation” was released six months after the Oscars scandal, which resulted in the actor’s decade-long ban from the event. The press tour was selected, sad, and scaled back. Smith admitted at the time that certain moviegoers could be unwilling to support the film because of his prominent position in it.
“I entirely understand — if someone isn’t ready, I’d respect that and give them space. My main concern is my team – Antoine [Fuqua, the film’s director] has done what I believe is the best work of his entire career,” Smith stated regarding “Emancipation.” “The folks on our team have done some of their best work in their entire careers, and my greatest desire is that my actions do not penalize my colleagues. That’s what I’m working toward right now.”
Smith’s return to a familiar action-comedy franchise, “Summertime,” with Lawrence by his side, is producing greater results.
“For those who were disappointed with the previous film, I promise you that there will be a moment in this film where you will get up out of your seat and fling your hands in the air because of the level of precision of the call-back that we have. “It’s as good as it’s ever been done,” Smith said Hot 97 before to the film’s release. “This is wonderful. “I’m excited for people to see it.”
His approach is similar of Tom Cruise’s recent movie promotional tours, which emphasize flash and enjoyment, stunts over substance. The man who survived leaping on Oprah Winfrey’s couch and more than one shattered marriage is a master at guiding listeners toward the product rather than the person behind the product.
Moviegoers seem eager to move forward from Smith’s slap. “Bad Boys: Ride or Die” has grossed more than $140 million since its release on June 7, according to Box Office Mojo.
Smith has also been delivering joy to the people, literally.
He sat calmly in the “Bad Boys” screening on its opening weekend at a Cinemark theater in Baldwin Hill, California, before stunning viewers later.
“It’s a ritual I have to do whenever a movie comes out,” he revealed in a social media video.
As the theater closes, Smith can be seen telling those leaving that he’s glad they enjoyed the film before the audience goes berserk with enthusiasm. If a picture is worth a thousand words, a personal appearance of Will Smith, apparently, is valuable once again.
