After slapping comedian Chris Rock on stage at the Oscars earlier this year, actor Will Smith says moviegoers will “totally understand” if they’re not “ready” to see his new film, “Deliverance.”
“Deliverance” is Smith’s first new film since he slapped The Rock in the face in March. Smith slapped Smith Rock for a joke the comedian made about Smith’s wife, Jada Pinkett Smith, and an autoimmune disease that causes hair loss.
Since the incident, Smith has apologized several times and resigned from the Academy.
In a recent interview with FOX 5 DC’s Kevin McCarthy, the actor said he understands if people aren’t ready to see the movie after being slapped with an Oscar.
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Actor Will Smith says he “totally understands” if moviegoers aren’t ready to see his new film, “Deliverance,” because of the devastating Oscar slap.
“If someone’s not ready, I absolutely respect that and I fully understand that I’m going to let them have their spot not ready,” Smith told McCarthy. “My biggest concern is my team – [director Antoine Fuqua] He did what I think is the greatest feat of his entire career.
He explained that his team “has done the best work in his entire career” and “My deepest hope is that my actions will not punish my team.”
Will Smith, right, hits host Chris Rock onstage while presenting the award for best documentary at the Dolby Theater in Los Angeles.
(Chris Pizzello)
“I hope that the material — the power of the film, the timeliness of the story — can at least open people’s hearts to see and recognize and support the amazing artists around this film,” Smith said.
In “Emancipation,” Smith played a slave named Peter who ran away from a plantation in Louisiana.
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Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith arrive at the Oscars at the Dolby Theater on Sunday, March 27, 2022 in Los Angeles.
(AP Photo/John Locher)
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Smith, who won a best actor Oscar for “King Richard” after slapping The Rock, is up for another nomination for his role in “Deliverance.” If the actor accepts the nomination, he will not be able to attend the ceremony.
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