Will Smith continues to face the repercussions of his infamous Oscars incident, with the controversy still affecting his career and opportunities, an insider has revealed to In Touch.
"Will is coming to terms with the reality of the situation. Even if he never speaks about ‘the slap’ publicly again, he’s dealing with its lasting impact privately and adjusting his professional approach accordingly," the source explained.
The 56-year-old actor remains a contentious figure in Hollywood circles, particularly within the Academy, three years after slapping comedian Chris Rock at the 2022 Oscars.
"He knows this isn’t something he can just erase. It follows him everywhere. But he still wants to be a movie star, and he has a strong eye for selecting projects, scripts, and marketing strategies," the insider added.
Since winning Best Actor for King Richard in 2021, Smith has starred in only two major films—2022’s Emancipation and 2024’s Bad Boys: Ride or Die. However, his future in Hollywood remains uncertain beyond his established franchises.
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"It’s going to be difficult for him to secure non-Bad Boys roles moving forward. He’ll need to offer more than just his legendary charisma to get high-budget films greenlit. Plus, Bad Boys is his last major franchise, meaning he’ll have to keep making them—even though action films aren’t easy when you’re over 50," the source noted.
Smith currently has several projects in early development, including a sequel to I Am Legend, a follow-up to Hancock, and a remake of Planes, Trains & Automobiles, in which he will co-star with Kevin Hart.
However, none of these films are actively in production, and his IMDb page does not list any upcoming acting roles that have progressed beyond the pre-production phase.
Recently, Smith has been seen in countries like Saudi Arabia, a move the insider says is financially motivated. "These aren’t just leisure trips—he’s going where the funding is because he still wants to make blockbusters," they explained.
Despite his efforts, the actor remains under a cloud of controversy. "There are still many in the industry who want nothing to do with him after what happened with Chris Rock. His only real option is to keep backing himself and hope audiences continue to support him. Bad Boys: Ride or Die was successful, but the true test will come when he no longer has a major franchise to rely on. That day is approaching fast," the source warned.
Smith was banned from the Academy Awards for 10 years after the altercation with Rock, who had joked about Jada Pinkett Smith’s shaved head. The Academy condemned his actions, calling them "unacceptable and harmful." Smith later accepted the decision, stating, "I respect the Academy’s ruling."