Will Smith’s infamous Oscars slap continues to be a topic of conversation, even at the Emmy Awards. During the ceremony, “Slow Horses” creator, also named Will Smith, won an Emmy for writing the series. When he took to the stage to accept his award, he couldn’t resist making a joke about sharing a name with the actor involved in the Oscars incident.
“First of all relax, despite my name, I come in peace,” Smith quipped, eliciting laughter from the audience before moving on to his thank you’s. The joke was well-received, showing that the passage of time hasn’t diminished the public’s interest in the headline-grabbing moment from two and a half years ago.
The joke referred to the incident where movie star Will Smith slapped comedian Chris Rock at the Oscars in 2022. The altercation occurred after Rock made a joke about Smith’s wife, Jada Pinkett Smith. The viral moment shocked the world and resulted in Smith facing backlash and being the subject of jokes for months afterward, leading to a temporary exile from Hollywood.
Since the incident, much has transpired in the Smith household. Will and Jada have openly discussed their estrangement, revealing that they had been separated for years before the Oscars incident. Additionally, Will’s film “Bad Boys 4” has been a commercial success, indicating that audiences have moved on from the controversy surrounding the slap.
Despite the tumultuous events of the past, it seems that the jokes are still well-received when delivered by Will Smith himself. The Emmy Awards moment serves as a reminder that time may heal wounds, but the impact of a high-profile incident can linger in the public consciousness for years to come.
