After almost a month of keeping under the radar after the Oscars controversy, Will Smith, the Hollywood A-lister and the fresh prince of Bel-Air, was spotted in Mumbai when he arrived at a private airport in the city. In a very traditional fashion for any Hollywood A-lister, he was greeted by a rush of paparazzi who were anxiously waiting for the actor. Reportedly, the actor is traveling to India for spiritual purposes and is expected to meet Gurus during his visit to the country. Currently, there are no confirmations on how long he is going to be staying in the country.
Oscars controversy:
Hollywood actor Will Smith hit Chris Rock on the face after the comedian made fun of the actor’s wife, Jada Pinkett Smith, during the Oscar Awards ceremony on Sunday. “Jada, can’t wait for GI Jane 2,” Chris Rock said while referring to her shaved hairdo, a result of hair loss condition alopecia. Angered by his joke, Smith walked up to the stage and hit Chris Rock. The incident left the audience shocked. Before returning to his seat, he shouted: “Keep my wife’s name out of your [expletive] mouth.” He later apologized on stage. “I want to apologize to the Academy. I want to apologize to all my fellow nominees,” he said during a tearful acceptance speech for best actor. Will Smith got the first Oscar of his career for playing the father of tennis stars Venus and Serena Williams in King Richard. Will Smith seemed to be laughing at first, but Jada seemed uncomfortable with the joke that perhaps triggered Smith to go on stage and smack Chris Rock.
Read More: Top five memorable moments from the Oscars
On the center stage, the Hollywood A-lister said that “The list of those I have hurt is long and includes Chris, his family, many of my dear friends and loved ones, all those in attendance, and global audiences at home. I betrayed the trust of the Academy,” He continued, “I want to put the focus back on those who deserve attention for their achievements and allow the Academy to get back to the incredible work it does to support creativity and artistry in film.”
The fresh prince of Bel-Air also took to Instagram to formally apologize for his overreaction. In his post, he acknowledged that his behavior was “unacceptable and inexcusable” and that he “was out of line” for how he reacted. He reflected that he was “embarrassed” as his actions were not “indicative of the man” he wanted to be. He further added that there is “no place for violence in a world of love and kindness.” Finally, he said that he was a “work in progress.”
Read More: ‘The Power of the Dog’ tops Oscar nominations
Two weeks after the incident, the actor got banned for ten years from the Oscar and has potentially jeopardized his future contracts because of acting out. Following the Oscars controversy, a National Geographic Documentary starring Will Smith has decided to delay production. And in the most recent development, Netflix has also canceled its “Bright” series, which starred the Hollywood A-lister.