Lara Zijl 
Will Smith, known for his role in “King Richard,” has addressed the infamous slap he delivered to comedian Chris Rock during the 2022 Oscars ceremony in his new music album “Based on a True Story.” The incident occurred when Rock made a joke about Smith’s wife, Jada Pinkett Smith, prompting Smith to walk onto the stage and slap Rock. Smith then returned to his seat, shouting, “Keep my wife’s name out of your mouth!” Later, he accepted the Best Actor Oscar for his performance in “King Richard.”
In a song titled “Int. Barbershop — Day,” Smith tackles the controversy with lyrics like, “Him and Jada both crazy girl, what you talkin’ bout?/ You better keep his wife’s name out of your mouth.” The song also includes lines directly referencing the slap, such as, “I heard he won the Oscar but he had to give it back/ And you know they only made him do that because he’s Black.”
While Smith did not have to return his Oscar, the Academy banned him from attending any events for 10 years. He also resigned from the Academy and issued an apology, stating that he was “deeply remorseful” for his actions.
“Based on a True Story” marks Smith’s first full-length solo music project in 20 years, his last release being 2005’s “Lost and Found.” Despite the controversy, Smith has continued to work, starring in Apple’s historical drama “Emancipation” and the box office hit “Bad Boys: Ride or Die.”Share
