It was, in the words of Chris Rock, “the greatest night in television history.” No one could have expected what happened on March 27, 2022, at the Dolby Theater in Hollywood, during the 94th Academy Awards.

Will Smith, who was nominated for best actor for “King Richard,” playing the father of tennis legends Venus and Serena Williams, took the stage after an awkward joke from Chris Rock about Smith’s wife’s appearance, of actress Jada Pinkett Smith, and slapped the comedian. He then yelled at Chris Rock, who managed to defuse the situation with another joke.

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What shocked many was that Will Smith won the award for best actor and was allowed to give an acceptance speech, which led to a surreal experience for the audience at home as they gave him a standing ovation.

The 40-year career of the actor overnight… “went out”. When Smith started out as an actor on “The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air” (an NBC sitcom created around him) in 1990, he set his sights on becoming “the biggest movie star in the world,” which he achieved in in a very few years. Today it is considered one of the greatest programs of all time, and its success marked a major moment for hip-hop and “black culture” on television.

Later, his role in the movie ‘Independence Day’ skyrocketed his fame as it was one of the highest grossing movies of all time. The actor showcased his skills as an action hero, which would later help him achieve his dream of becoming a big movie star. In the years that followed, Smith continued to take on a variety of roles that showcased his acting range. He starred in emotionally charged dramas such as ‘The Pursuit of Happyness’ and ‘Ali’, proving that he was not just an action star, but a versatile actor capable of tackling complex and compelling characters.

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As his fame grew, Will Smith used his platform to address important social issues, advocate for equality and justice, and inspire others to pursue their dreams. He became an inspiration to his fans around the world, an example of success and humility and one of the most beloved actors of his time.

However, there seemed to be some conflicts in his personal life, especially after the revelations he and his wife made on the show ‘Red Table Talk’. Both expressed unconventional practices in their marriage, jokingly calling their engagement a “bad marriage for life,” while both admitted to having extramarital affairs. Additionally, Pinkett Smith was diagnosed with alopecia areata in 2018 and was forced to shave her head.

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Following the public backlash, Smith formally apologized in an Instagram post, announcing his resignation as a member of the Academy. AMPAS president David Rubin accepted the resignation. The Academy later announced its decision to ban Smith from future Oscar galas and related events for 10 years. The slapping scandal caused the suspension of several film projects Smith was involved in, except for “Emancipation”, a film in which he starred. Although his performance was very good, the audience was not ready to forgive him.

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Months after the incident, Chris Rock, who didn’t want to press charges, finally spoke out. It was during a comedy special where he stated: “It still hurts… Will Smith is exercising selective rage. Everyone knows what happened. I had no ‘involvement,’” she said, referring to Pinkett Smith’s description of her relationship with rapper August Alsina while she was married to Smith. Rock’s friend Leslie Jones said the comedian sought help after the incident. “It really affected him.” The Rock has previously spoken about the trauma he suffered as a child and has admitted to psychotherapy to deal with anger issues.

As for Smith’s return to the big screen, there is little indication of that. Time will tell what will happen with the actor’s career…