Will Smith has spoken about his shock after a co-star in his newest film Emancipation spat on him during an ad-libbed scene.
Smith reflected on the experience during a conversation on Red Table Talk this week alongside his three children, Willow, Jaden and Trey Smith. (His wife, Jada Pinkett Smith, usually co-hosts the show alongside her mother, Adrienne Banfield-Norris, and Willow.)
The Oscar-winner admitted that the ad-libbed scene from Emancipation, which follows a man escaping slavery, left him at a loss for words.
“As the years have gone on, I’ve gotten more and more locked into these characters for longer periods of time,” he said. “And it’s just the weight of this story, the weight of these experiences — the quality of these actors. It was emotionally, it was physically, it was spiritually taxing.”
He continued: “One of the first days on set, there is a scene with one of the actors, and he leans down in my face and says, ‘You a cold one, ain’t you?’ and then he ad-libbed…”
After re-enacting the spitting, all three of his children burst into laughter.
“I was like, ‘Makeup!’” Smith recalled. “No, but it was like … I was like, ‘Whoa’. Every actor on this set was taking it really, really seriously.”
Released on December 9, Emancipation tells the story of a slave named Peter (played by Smith) who embarks on a journey to gain his freedom following the signing of the Emancipation Proclamation. The film is inspired by the famous 1863 photo of “Whipped Peter,” an enslaved man who joined the Union Army in hopes of being reunited with his family.
The movie marks Smith’s first starring role following his infamous slap of Chris Rock at the 2022 Oscars in March. The incident led to Smith being barred from the Academy and its events for 10 years.
After taking a few months off, the former Fresh Prince star returned in with an apology video in July addressing the incident.
“Disappointing people is my central trauma,” he said in the almost six-minute clip. “I hate when I let people down. It hurts me psychologically and emotionally to know I didn’t live up to people’s image and impression of me.”
He continued: “I made a mistake, and I’m trying not to think of myself as a piece of shit, so I would say to those people, I know it was confusing, I know it was shocking, but I promise you I am deeply devoted and committed to putting light and love and joy into the world. If you hang on, I promise we’ll be able to be friends again.”
Go away Will. And take your weird family with you.
Still a legend
Poor man’s Jamie fox… and Jamie foxx is a poor man’s Denzel
Yet you would love to have the pennies off of his dollars!🤣🤣
So what, he slapped Chris Rock. There’s deeper shit in the world to care about. It’s sad that one bad thing, which really isn’t that bad, is affecting a strong brother like Will. Hold your head king.
Yeah, the GOAT of cornballs. Slapped a darker and shorter man in front of white people because he NEVER had the balls to check his wife and get control of the house. Over a GI JANE joke. You weirdos defend anyone you want to dick ride and then act surprised when Kanye act like he can do anything because he a musical genius. GTFO
Comparing Will Smith to fuckin Kanye west is hilarious
Why you so angry, bro?
How many of these slave movies need a o be made? And what are black ppl supposed to walk away with?
I pray your grandmom or greater grandparents don’t read this from you, the same things our ancestor’s have endorsed Us still going on now was worse when Donald Trump was In office and you have the audacity to write this BS, look at your brother and sister’s of today and say that.
I agree. Enough with the slave films. So many incredible stories are possible but slave and hood stories are the cream of the crop. I appreciate what Jordan Peele has been doing with his outside the box movies.
It amazes me, and has always amazed me, that Black Actors (no matter what, remain Black Actors), and what I mean by that, is this, they continue to allow the white establishment to use them in the arena of being “Buck Dancing Coons, movies like “The Butler,” 12 years a slave, “, The Emancipation, the list goes on and on! Far too many to list. The White man will allow you to make these movies, as long as he have you making them and acting for him! You have a place in society and this is your place, N****! And we’re here to remind you each and every time you do this, where you came from, in order for you not to forget not moving forward!
Why do people have to be so rude,we all make mistakes, we are all human. Will Smith apologized and that should be the end of it.He is without sin throw the first stone, if you are a perfect person!!!!!
You are so right AMEN,AMEN