Will Smith smacked Chris Rock at the 2022 Oscars

Will Smith Brags That He Is 'Still Hot' And 'Back On Top' On New Album After Infamous Oscars Slap

Home / Entertainment / Will Smith Brags That He Is 'Still Hot' And 'Back On Top' On New Album After Infamous Oscars Slap

By Favour Adegoke on March 28, 2025 at 1:15 PM EDT

Will Smith has addressed the infamous 2022 Oscars incident where he walked on stage to hit Chris Rock after the comedian made a joke about his wife, Jada Pinkett Smith.

The actor has since apologized for his actions, admitting that he's "human" and "made a mistake. " However, he was still banned from the Motion Picture Academy for 10 years following the incident.

Jada Pinkett Smith previously weighed in on the controversy, revealing she was "shocked" by Will Smith's actions and words, as they hadn't "called each other husband and wife in a long time."

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Will Smith Addresses Chris Rock Slap On New Album

Will Smith at the 67th Annual Grammy Awards
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Smith has again addressed his infamous Oscars altercation with Rock in his new album titled "Based On A True Story."

In the first track, "Int. Barbershop — Day," which features the actor's "Fresh Prince of Bel-Air" collaborator, DJ Jazzy Jeff and B. Simone, a voice can be heard saying, "Who the f-ck Will Smith think he is?" to which another replies: "I ain't never going to forgive him for that sh-t he did."

"I heard he won the Oscar but he had to give it back/ And you know they only made him do that s–t because he's Black," Smith says on the first song. "Him and Jada both crazy girl, what you talkin' bout?/ You better keep his wife's name out of your mouth."

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On the second track, "You Lookin' for Me?," he raps: "Took a lot, I'm back on top/ Y'all gon' have to get acclimated/ Won't stop, my s–t still hot/ Even though I won't get nominated."

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Will Smith Apologized For Slapping The Comedian

Chris Rock at FX Networks Star Walk Winter Press Tour 2020
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Although Smith raps about "giving back" the Academy Award for Best Actor, which he won that year for his role in "King Richard," he didn't have to and was asked to.

His issue with Rock arose when the comedian made a "G.I. Jane" joke about Smith's wife, Jada Pinkett's shaved hair. The actress reportedly has alopecia, which causes hair loss.

Rock's joke made Smith climb the Oscar stage to deliver a heavy slap across the award presenter's face.

When he returned to his seat, Smith shouted back, "Keep my wife's name out of your f-cking mouth!"

The move sparked mixed reactions globally, and the actor was eventually handed a 10-year ban from the award show.

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He later apologized to Rock publicly, saying in part, "There is no part of me that thinks that was the right way to behave in that moment. There's no part of me that thinks that's the optimal way to handle a feeling of disrespect or insults."

At the time, Smith reiterated that he was sorry for his actions, calling his behavior "unacceptable."

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Jada Pinkett Smith Was 'Shocked' By The Actor's Reaction

Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith at Los Angeles Premiere Of Apple Original Films' 'Emancipation'
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Reacting to her husband's slap incident, Jada noted that she was "shocked" as her relationship with the actor had been "fractured" for about six years before then.

Jada also noted that she and Smith had not referred to each other as "husband" and "wife" in a longtime before that faithful day.

"Why it fractured, that's a lot of things," she said in an NBC interview with Hoda Kotb. "And I think by the time we got to 2016 we were just exhausted with trying. I think we were both kind of just still stuck in our fantasy of what we thought the other person should be."

"I made a promise that there will never be a reason for us to get a divorce. We will work through whatever," Jada continued, per the New York Post. "And I just haven't been able to break that promise."

They ultimately decided to separate in 2016 after Jada was engaged in an "entanglement" with singer August Alsina.

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Will Smith Slammed For 'Inappropriate' Performance With Singer

2022 Vanity Fair Oscar Party
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Smith came under fire recently for what fans termed an "inappropriate" performance with singer India Martinez as they performed the song "First Love" at the Premio Lo Nuestro award show in Miami on February 20.

According to the Daily Mail, things got steamy during their performance, and the pair even appeared to kiss each other while Smith placed his hand on her backside, amid his unusual marriage arrangement with Jada.

A fan wrote, "This is the worst," while a second said, "Inappropriate, even if it is entertainment."

Another said, "It's how Will forgot where he was and went to put his arms around her."

However, other fans defended the actor saying he deserved "unlimited hall passes" after Jada admitted to an affair with Alsina.

"I know y'all ain't tripping when Jada has embarrassed this man publicly numerous times!! Come on," a fan wrote.

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Will Smith And Jada Pinkett Smith Have An Unusual Living Arrangement

Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith at
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The Hollywood power couple has been embroiled in reports of marital woes over the years. However, insiders recently revealed they're still married and connected but now live apart.

"Call it what you want. They are living their own lives but haven't completely severed ties," a source told People Magazine.

Another shared that they're "still together" but "have had separate homes for years."

The first source added that Will "is busy with film and music and doing okay"; however, he "is a bit disillusioned with Hollywood, but that could all change with some new success."

Reports have previously surfaced suggesting that Jada owns a house in Calabasas near the "I Am Legend" actor.

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