Will Smith opens up about infamous Oscars slap: “It Was Brutal”

International

IT’S been three years since that infamous Oscars moment, and Will Smith has finally opened up about the emotional aftermath of slapping comedian Chris Rock on stage in front of millions.

In an interview with BBC 1Xtra’s Remi Burgz, the 56-year-old actor called the experience “brutal,” describing it as a time of deep personal reflection.

“After the Oscars, I shut it all down,” Smith said. “I went inward, really looked at myself, and began doing the work—big, strong, honest work.”

Smith was banned from attending the Oscars for 10 years after he stormed the stage and slapped Rock, who had made a joke about Jada Pinkett Smith’s shaved head—a result of her alopecia diagnosis. The moment instantly went viral and sparked global conversations.

“For the first time in my career, I had to face a level of disapproval I had never felt before,” he shared. “I had to confront my addiction to external validation—and breaking free from that was tough.”

In the wake of the backlash, Smith esigned from the Academy and described his actions as “shocking, painful, and inexcusable.” But he also says the incident forced him to unlock parts of himself he had long buried.

“It was like removing a manhole cover and finding parts of myself I’d been avoiding. It was terrifying at first,” he admitted. “But then came new energy, new thoughts, new creativity—it felt like a geyser.”

That burst of creativity led to his first album in 20 years, Based On A True Story. Before hitting the studio, Smith reached out to Jay-Z and Kendrick Lamar for advice.

“Kendrick told me, ‘Say the things you’ve always been scared to say.’ And Jay said, ‘Don’t even do it unless you’re being honest,’” he recalled.

Critics haven’t exactly embraced the album. Pitchfork called it “excruciatingly corny,” while Rolling Stone described it as “cringey” and “dated.” But for Will, the music is more than just a project—it’s therapy.

“It’s how I explore the parts of myself that I’ve hidden—the ‘despicable prisoners,’” he explained. “The things I was taught not to speak about. But through that honesty and imperfection, I’m finding a higher kind of authenticity—beyond the image people know as Will Smith.”(Jocel Tuanson, CNU Comm Intern)