Will Smith says he ‘understands’ if viewers aren’t ‘ready’ to watch new film after Oscars slap

Will Smith has shared a message for those who might not want to see his new film because of his behaviour at the Oscars. Emancipation , a new drama from Training Day director Antoine Fuqua, is the first new Smith film to be released after the actor struck Chris Rock around the face on stage at the awards ceremony in March 2022. He hit Rock after the comedian made a joke about his wife Jada Pinkett Smith.

Since the incident, Smith, who was condemned for his actions, has apologised twice and resigned as a member of the Academy . During the promotional trail for Emancipation , Smith was asked by journalist KevinMcCarthy what he would say to someone who does not feel “ready” to see him lead a film following the slap. “I completely understand – if someone is not ready, I would absolutely respect that and allow them their space to not be ready,” he said.

“My deepest concern is my team – Antoine has done what I think is the greatest work of his entire career. ” He continued: “The people on this team have done some of the best work of their entire careers, and my deepest hope is that my actions don’t penalise my team. “At this point, that’s what I’m working for.

I’m hoping that the material – the power of the film, the timeliness of the story – I’m hoping that the good that can be done would open people’s hearts at a minimum to see and recognise and support the incredible artists in and around this film. ” Will Smith in ‘Emancipation’ Shortly after he slapped Rock, the actor won his first ever Best Actor Oscar for King Richard , and delivered a tearful speech . The actor is in contention for another nomination following his role in Emancipation – however, should he receive a nod, he will be unable to attend the ceremony.

In the film, Smith plays Peter, a slave who flees a plantation in Louisiana. Emancipation will be released on AppleTV+ on 9 December. Registration is a free and easy way to support our truly independent journalism By registering, you will also enjoy limited access to Premium articles, exclusive newsletters, commenting, and virtual events with our leading journalists {{#verifyErrors}} {{message}} {{/verifyErrors}} {{^verifyErrors}} {{message}} {{/verifyErrors}} By clicking ‘Create my account’ you confirm that your data has been entered correctly and you have read and agree to our Terms of use, Cookie policy and Privacy notice.

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This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy policy and Terms of service apply. Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies Getty Images / Apple TV+ Will Smith in ‘Emancipation’ Apple TV+ Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today. .