Will Smith Concerned Audiences Will ‘Penalize’ New Film ‘Emancipation’ Because Of Oscars Slap

Topline

Will Smith said Monday his “deepest hope” is that audiences won’t “penalize” his upcoming film Emancipation because they are not ready to see him on the big screen after he slapped Chris Rock at the Oscars earlier this year, which caused him to be banned from future Academy Awards ceremonies for the next 10 years.

Key Facts

Speaking to Washington, D.C. TV station Fox 5, Smith said he “absolutely understands” if people aren’t ready to see a movie starring him yet.

Smith said he hopes his actions won’t affect “the incredible artists in and around this film,” who have “done some of the best work of their entire career.”

Key Background

During the Oscars ceremony in March, Smith jumped on stage and slapped Chris Rock, who ad-libbed a joke about Smith’s wife, Jada Pinkett-Smith. Smith resigned as a member of the Academy and was barred from attending ceremonies for the next 10 years as a punishment. However, he can still be nominated for awards. Smith won his first Oscar shortly after slapping Rock for Best Lead Actor for his portrayal of Richard Williams in King Richard, about Serena and Venus Williams’ father. It was reported that Apple, which is distributing Emancipation, discussed delaying the film until 2023 because of the slap, as Smith could be nominated again for his performance.

Tangent

Emancipation is based on the true story of Peter, a man who escaped from slavery and joined the Union army. The photographs of his back, and the wounds on them from being whipped by his enslavers, became famous for helping to expose the brutalities of slavery.

What To Watch For

Emancipation hits theaters on Friday, and will be available to stream on Apple TV+ on December 9.

Further Reading

Will Smith’s ‘Emancipation’ Set For December Release Despite Oscars Slap (Forbes)

Will Smith Speaks Out For First Time On Oscars Slap: ‘I’m Sorry Isn’t Really Sufficient’ (Forbes)