Kevin Hart wants the world to step out of Will Smith and Chris Rock‘s business. The comedian recently came to the “Fresh Prince of Bel-Air” star’s defense while urging the media to allow Smith to recover.
As you might know, Smith has been making headlines after his controversial actions at the 2022 Oscars ceremony, where he slapped comedian Chris Rock for making a joke about his wife, Jada Pinkett Smith.
Kevin Hart Chooses Will Smith
The “Central Intelligence” star, during a recent appearance on “Drink Champs,” voiced his support for Smith, who he referred to as his “brother.” When asked by hosts N.O.R.E. and DJ EFN to choose between Ice Cube and Smith, Hart didn’t hesitate to choose the latter.
“Dark times deserve f**king great light,” he began “I’m not gonna s**t on my brother, and I’ll say, Will Smith.” The stand-up comedian explained his decision to side with the “I Am Legend” actor saying, “Will Smith is a f**king– he’s not only a legend, he’s not only a GOAT… [he] is the reason why the idea of African Americans attached to global IP is normal.”
Hart continued, “Studios took the gamble on more leads of color because of the work that Will Smith, and Denzel were doing in the beginning, right? You need the faces that are giving the universal return. So I’m not gonna s**t on Will and act like he hasn’t been, and wasn’t, that guy.”
In response to the hosts joking about Smith being a “gangster,” Hart urged that people are allowed to make “mistakes,” and they should be “allowed time to f**king recover.” Expatiating on the issue, the BET Award winner advised, “And that this is no longer the world’s problem, it’s Will and Chris’ problem. Let them deal with that. The world should step out of it and let them recover.”
When asked by N.O.R.E. and DJ EFN if he supported Smith’s decision to defend his wife Jada, the Hart Productions founder denied the sentiment, saying that wasn’t the case. “I think it’s something deeper than anyone would ever understand. That’s why I said the world is now out of it and should stay out of it and move on. Let two men be men and figure that out. if they choose to.”
The ‘Jumanji’ Actor Is Hopeful For A Reconciliation
This isn’t the first time Hart has dished on the Smith-Rock saga, and his sentiment remains that “The Pursuit of Happyness” actor should be given some grace. As The Blast reported in July, the comedian shared his thoughts during the premiere of “DC League of Super-Pets.”
“Will is apologetic, you know. He’s in a better space, of course than what he was after. People are human, and as humans, sometimes we make mistakes. So it’s not about talking about the past. It’s about acknowledging the present and doing your best to move forward,” he said on the red carpet. He also expressed his desire for both men to put the past behind them.
“I can get only hope that the two of them find a way to find some solace in that and move past it. I just like good energy. I love to see people be the best. I still love him, I still love Chris.”
The 43-year-old even backed up his wish for reconciliation with actions. That same month, he made an appearance at David Chapelle and Rock’s “The Closer” show at Madison Square Garden and, to everyone’s surprise, arrived with a goat.
Before the show wrapped up, Hart said he had a gift for the “Grownups” star and handed him a goat wearing gold chains. He told Rock that the goat gift was a representation of him being the Greatest of All Time before unveiling that the creature’s name was Will Smith.
The ‘King Richard’ Star Snags First Post-slapgate Role
Hart’s defense of Smith comes a week after the veteran Hollywood star snagged his first major role since the Oscars incident. Per reports, the 54-year-old is set to appear in the Paramount Pictures movie “Brilliance.”
The passion project will see Smith reunite with screenwriter Goldsman, whom he worked with on several of his high-grossing films, including “I, Robot” in 2004, “I Am Legend” in 2007, and 2008’s “Hancock.”
