Will Smith’s new album is all about slapping Chris Rock, however netizens are unimpressed; ‘in contrast to Will, this doesn’t slap’

What occurred on the 94th Academy Awards?

In the course of the 94th Academy Awards in 2022, Will Smith walked onstage and struck Rock throughout his presentation for Finest Documentary Function. The slap was in response to an informal joke Rock made about Jada Pinkett Smith’s shaved head, referencing G.I. Jane (1997), by which Demi Moore’s character had an analogous look. Jada had brazenly mentioned her struggles with alopecia, making the joke notably delicate. After the slap, Smith returned to his seat and shouted profanities at Rock, who briefly addressed the second earlier than persevering with together with his presentation.

Later that evening, Smith received Finest Actor for King Richard (2021). Whereas he apologised to the Academy and fellow nominees in his acceptance speech, he didn’t point out Rock. The next day, he publicly apologized to Rock and the Academy by way of social media. Smith later resigned from the Academy and was subsequently banned from attending Academy occasions, together with the Oscars, for the subsequent 10 years.

Smith addressed this controversy within the album

On the monitor You Lookin’ For Me?, Smith addresses the aftermath of the Oscars controversy: “Took so much, I’m again on high, y’all gon’ must get acclimated / Gained’t cease, my s–t’s nonetheless sizzling though I received’t get nominated / Private life with my spouse, thoughts your enterprise, it’s sophisticated.” The album additionally options interludes mimicking public discourse round Smith’s actions, reflecting the divided opinions on his conduct. “I heard he received the Oscar however he needed to give it again / And you recognize they solely made him do this s–t as a result of he’s Black,” one voice remarks. One other takes direct intention on the incident: “Him and Jada each loopy, woman, what you talkin’ bout / You higher maintain his spouse’s title out of your mouth.” The lyrics and skits spotlight how Smith was briefly “cancelled” within the court docket of public opinion, with some nonetheless unwilling to forgive him.

Netizens react

Netizen reactions have been far and wide. Whereas some tried to face up for the Recent Prince, many have been of the opinion that the album and most of Smith’s current work was “attempting too laborious”. One touch upon Reddit learn, “I believe that is what holds his music again. Tracks like You Can Make It, Work of Artwork, Rave within the Wasteland actually look like he is all in favour of making constructive, uplifting music, however I am not likely all in favour of listening to that from him. First Love looks as if it is purported to be a deeper reflection of affection, and fairly frankly, Will would not actually look like he is able to inspecting that.” One other remark was, “Yea, moreover the intro, I doubt I will keep in mind any of this tomorrow. It looks as if he solely made it to try to clear up his picture and present him going again to his roots after every little thing spiralled downwards for him after the slap incident. Every little thing could be very generic, even the unhealthy elements of this album are what you’d count on to be unhealthy. It has a whole lot of the identical points that you simply expertise with rappers which might be typically labeled as “corny”. Every little thing Smith does sounds off. It is like he’s solely making stylistic selections if it is one thing fashionable, and would not perceive why it was good within the first place, so he simply finally ends up pulling it off poorly.” One other remark stored it easy saying, “Not like Will Smith – this doesn’t slap.”

With Based mostly on a True Story, Smith is attempting to reclaim a story that the viewers shouldn’t be keen to half with. Will the album garner success in its mission, or will this actor’s 5 minutes of fame relaxation on the slap that sounded by the trade?