'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,/9j/2wBDAAYEBQYFBAYGBQYHBwYIChAKCgkJChQODwwQFxQYGBcUFhYaHSUfGhsjHBYWICwgIyYnKSopGR8tMC0oMCUoKSj/2wBDAQcHBwoIChMKChMoGhYaKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCj/wgARCAAIAAoDASIAAhEBAxEB/8QAFgABAQEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAUH/8QAFAEBAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAABP/aAAwDAQACEAMQAAAAz6KGf//EAB0QAAIDAAIDAAAAAAAAAAAAAAEDAgQRAAUGMqH/2gAIAQEAAT8AqeX93QoJWm5XbRjArmhLRBcASBEREBkR7ca2BbMy7ejundaD9zn/xAAXEQADAQAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAQIx/9oACAECAQE/ALlLD//EABcRAAMBAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAABAzH/2gAIAQMBAT8Ak9P/2Q=='%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Comedian and screenwriter Will Smith is trending in the headlines for a joke he made at the recent Emmy Awards held on September 15, 2024. Notably, the joke came during his acceptance speech when he went on stage to receive the award for outstanding writing for a drama series.
The producer's words addressed the incident where actor Smith slapped Chris Rock at the 94th Academy Awards, held in the Los Angeles-based Dolby Theatre. The latest Emmys was also organized in the same venue and Will said:
"First of all, relax. Despite my name, I come in peace."
Trending
The audiences were heard laughing as soon as he cracked the joke. On the other hand, the Oscars incident landed the Bad Boys 2 star in trouble since he was banned from attending the awards ceremony for ten years. Smith also exited the Academy a week before the announcement came.
However, Will Smith's career was not affected by the incident. He last appeared in Bad Boys: Ride or Die this year, which turned out to be a profitable venture.
On the other hand, producer Will Smith's speech also led to a lineup of reactions in the comments section of Complex Pop's Instagram post. One of them also referred to the moment from the Oscars where actor Smith told Rock not to mention his wife Jada Pinkett Smith.
Similar responses continued below the post with a user saying that Smith was practicing the line for several weeks. Another person told Will to take care since he might get slapped. A user stated that it would have been a funny moment to see Smith being hit by a "white guy called Christopher Rock."
Will Smith is willing to return to the Academy after being banned
As mentioned, the slap incident led to the Aladdin star's ban from entering the ceremony for ten years and he also resigned from the Academy. Meanwhile, a source told In Touch in July this year he wants the Academy to remove the ban and said:
"The moment everybody is waiting for is for Chris and Will to publicly and genuinely bury the hatchet. That's going to give the Academy the confidence to revisit the decision."
The source added that Will Smith's supporters have always reminded people that he has already apologized for the incident and even sold tickets for his film. The source referred to Tom Cruise advocating for the Church of Scientology and said:
"Nobody was bringing up Scientology when Tom was filling cinemas week after week two years ago with Top Gun: Maverick. Will is a sinner, but sinners can be forgiven and he's driving a lot of business right now, against all odds."
The source even elaborated on the obstacles that stand in the path of Will Smith as he attempts to get back to the Academy. It claimed that there are Academy members who believe that he should have been arrested for whatever that happened but there are fans who are willing to see him on the big screen.
Meanwhile, the 55-year-old serves as a producer for Karate Kid, the sixth entry in the martial arts film franchise. It features Jackie Chan among the lead cast members and is arriving on the big screen on May 30, 2025.
