Will Smith's redemption: From Oscar scandal to box office triumph

In March 2022, Will Smith received the award for Best Actor during the Oscars ceremony. However, this event was entirely overshadowed by a loud incident involving the Hollywood star. After two years of exile, Will Smith has returned to the good graces of viewers and critics.

The incident that ultimately overshadowed the 94th Oscars ceremony occurred during the award presentation for Best Feature Documentary. The gala host, Chris Rock, joked about Jada Pinkett Smith's hairstyle, who had appeared at the Dolby Theatre with a shaved head. "Jada, I love you. 'G.I. Jane II,' can't wait to see it," he said. He referred to the famous movie in which Demi Moore starred with a shaved head.

The joke was risky, as Jada Pinkett Smith suffers from alopecia, which causes hair loss. However, it was not delivered maliciously; in comparison, for example, to jokes by Whoopi Goldberg, who previously hosted the Oscars ceremonies, or Ricky Gervais at the Golden Globes, Chris Rock presented viewers with polite anecdotes. However, the actress's husband reacted in a way that surprised everyone. He walked onto the stage and slapped the comedian hard. Then, already back in the audience, he shouted: "Keep my wife's name out your f***ing mouth."

Will Smith began apologizing for his behaviour just a few minutes later when he received the Oscar for his role in the movie "King Richard." However, the damage was done. The American Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences issued a statement emphasizing that its members do not favour violence. The actor preempted the ceremony organizers by resigning from his membership in the American Academy, which added a ten-year ban from attending its events.

Film studios and producers also reacted very quickly. Netflix executives issued a statement saying they had withdrawn entirely from the production of "Fast and Loose," in which Smith was set to play the head of a criminal underworld. Preparations for two other films featuring the Oscar winner, including the fourth instalment of "Bad Boys," were also suspended.

Sometime later, Will Smith returned to the events of the Oscars gala in an emotional recording. "I will say to you, Chris, I apologize to you. My behavior was unacceptable and I am here whenever you are ready to talk". (...) "I’m human and I made a mistake and I’m trying not to think of myself as a piece of s***," Smith said with tears in his eyes.

Time has healed the wounds, and the Hollywood film community has forgiven the actor. Several months later, work on the fourth part of "Bad Boys" resumed. At least there was time to polish the script. "Bad Boys: Ride or Die" is getting much better reviews than the previous instalment, and it is trendy in theatres. In the United States, the film with Will Smith earned £45 million during its opening weekend and more than £80 million worldwide. The success of "Bad Boys: Ride or Die" is significant for the American film industry, as this year's series of spectacular summer blockbuster failures at the box office has finally been broken.