Will Smith Reflects on ‘Brutal’ Fallout After Oscars Slap
1. The Slap That Changed Everything Three years after the infamous Oscars 2022 incident—when Will Smith slapped presenter Chris Rock during the live ceremony—the actor says the emotional and psychological impact that followed was “brutal.” 2. The Cost of Losing Approval Smith revealed he had to confront a profound “addiction to the approval of others.” He shared, “It was brutal… It was like there was a manhole cover over some unexplored areas and the manhole cover came off.” This public reckoning forced him into deep introspection. 3. Career Pause & Healing Following the incident, Smith temporarily stepped back—reflecting on past trauma, reassessing life priorities, and dedicating time to inner work. He described shutting down to take “a big, strong, honest look” at himself. 4. Re-emergence Through Music His recent music return and candid openness signal a shift from public drama […]