Will Smith Worries Oscars Slap Could Hurt His New Movie Emancipation’s Success

Will Smith remains worried about the aftermath of his Oscars slap. And in particular, Smith feels concerned about how hitting Chris Rock could affect his new film. That movie, Emancipation, could forecast Will’s future.

Find out what Smith shared. And learn whether he understands how movie goers might feel about viewing him in a film. Get all the details below.

Will Smith Reflects On Oscars Slap’s Impact On His New Film

The film Emancipation gives Will Smith the opportunity to return to the entertainment world after slapping Chris Rock at the Oscars. But the actor shared that he understands if audiences don’t feel ready to flock to the theater for him. However, Smith added that he worries about his team getting hurt, reported THR.

Although Will “completely” respects viewers who don’t want to see him, his “deepest hope” remains that the Oscars scandal doesn’t harm the movie. “Don’t penalize my team,” summed up Smith. And he added, “If someone is not ready. I would absolutely respect that and allow them their space to not be ready.”

However, the actor praised those who contributed to the movie. For instance, Will applauded the creative accomplishments of director Antoine Fuqua, cinematographer Robert Richardson, production designer Naomi Shohan, and costume designer Francine Jamison-Tanchuck. Praising his co-star Charmaine Bingwa, Smith added, “The people on this team have done some of the best work of their entire careers. And my deepest hope is that my actions don’t penalize my team.”

Will Smith acknowledged that fans may be hesitant to support him after he infamously slapped Chris Rock at the 2022 Oscars. https://t.co/IYc4w2ZAuF

— Us Weekly (@usweekly) November 28, 2022

Will Smith Seeks To Promote His Movie Featuring Faith And Freedom

The actor shared his hope that “the material, the power of the film, the timeliness of the story. I’m hoping that the good that can be done will open people’s hearts at a minimum to see and recognize and support the incredible artists in and around this film.” And Smith shared that he wants audiences to understand the significance of the film. Rather than a movie about slavery, Will noted, the film focuses on “freedom, resilience, [and] faith.”

However, Smith also spoke specifically about the director. “And this was a story that exploded and blossomed in my heart that I wanted to be able to deliver to you in a way that only Antoine Fuqua could deliver.” Fuqua himself shared that he hopes “audiences see the truth and [feel] inspired by it.”

And the director clarified why he felt that the film should land in theaters now despite the controversy. “My conversation was always, ‘Isn’t 400 years of slavery, of brutality, more important than one bad moment?’ We were in Hollywood, and there’s been some really ugly things that have taken place,” he pointed out. “And we’ve seen a lot of people get awards that have done some really nasty things. So, I think Apple considered all those things, and we discussed a lot of those things. Then, a decision was made by the people in charge of distribution and the money at Apple. And I’m grateful. I’m really grateful.”

Tell us what you think. Do you plan to see the movie? Or do you believe that Will Smith should have waited to promote his new film because of the Oscars slap? And after you share your views, check back on our site for more celebrity news.

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