Will Smith addresses Chris Rock Oscars slap on new album Based mostly on a True Story

On his new album, Based mostly on a True Story, Will Smith is defiant about his notorious Chris Rock Oscars slap, addressing the incident on a number of songs.

The opening observe on the challenge, “Int. Barbershop – Day,” is a skit with a refrain of voices sharing rumors and differing opinions of the actor and rapper, together with “Will Smith is canceled” and “I ain’t by no means gonna forgive him for that shit he did.”

Afterward, one voice says, “I heard he gained the Oscar, however he needed to give it again.” One other chimes in, “And you recognize they solely made him try this shit as a result of he’s Black.”

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The track additionally references Smith’s response on the Oscars to Rock’s joke about his spouse, Jada Pinkett Smith: “Him and Jada each loopy lady, what you speaking about?/ You higher preserve his spouse’s identify out of your mouth.”

On the second observe, “You Lookin’ for Me?,” Smith boasts about his comeback by rapping, “Took loads, I’m again on prime, y’all gon’ must get acclimatеd/ Received’t cease, my shit’s nonetheless sizzling although I gained’t get nominatеd/ Private life with my spouse, thoughts what you are promoting, it’s difficult.”

As a refresher, Rock made a joke about Pinkett Smith’s hair on the 2022 Oscars earlier than saying the winner for Greatest Documentary Characteristic. This prompted Smith to stroll onto the stage and strike Rock along with his open hand.

In shock, Rock mentioned, “Wow, Will Smith simply smacked the shit out of me.” When Smith returned to his seat, he yelled, “Hold my spouse’s identify out of your fucking mouth!” Rock retorted, “Wow, dude, it was a G.I. Jane joke,” just for Smith to repeat his earlier sentence.

For context, Pinkett Smith had lately introduced she had shaved her head after battling alopecia.

Later within the night, Smith addressed the incident throughout his acceptance speech for Greatest Actor, which he gained for King Richard. “Artwork imitates life. I appear like the loopy father, similar to they mentioned about Richard Williams,” he mentioned. “However love will make you do loopy issues.”

Rock declined to press expenses, however Smith would go on to resign from the Academy of Movement Image Arts & Sciences and was banned from attending the Oscars and related occasions for 10 years. Nonetheless, he was not compelled to return his Oscar.

Smith wouldn’t reemerge into the general public eye till 4 months later, when he apologized to Rock in a YouTube video. For Rock’s half, he didn’t tackle the Oscars slap till a 12 months later in his Netflix standup particular, Selective Outrage,

Rock mentioned he was “not a sufferer,” blaming the outburst and assault on Pinkett Smith’s affair with August Alsina. “I didn’t have any ‘entanglements,’” he mentioned. “She damage him far more than he damage me, OK?”

Over the previous 12 months, Smith has been on the comeback path, becoming a member of J Balvin at Coachella 2024 to carry out “Males in Black.” He additionally co-starred in Dangerous Boys: Trip or Die alongside Martin Lawrence.

Based mostly on a True Story is Smith’s first solo album in 20 years, marking the follow-up to 2005’s Misplaced and Discovered.

Based mostly on a True Story Art work: