Will Smith reflects on his transformation after the infamous Oscars slap
In a candid conversation on BBC's "1Xtra" with host Remi Burgz, Will Smith opened up about the profound transformation he has undergone since the infamous incident at the 2022 Oscars, where he slapped comedian Chris Rock.
Reflecting on the shocking moment, which was televised worldwide, the actor acknowledged that it forced him to take a 'big, strong, honest look at myself".
In the aftermath of the incident, which occurred after Rock made a joke about his wife Jada Pinkett Smith's hair loss, Smith decided to take a step back and engage in deep self-reflection.
'After the Oscars I, like, shut it down for a minute and really went into the internal work,' he explained during the interview.
"All of a sudden, it was like there was a manhole cover over some unexplored areas, and like the manhole cover came off, and it was scary for a minute ... Then all of a sudden all of these new thoughts, new energies and new creativity came through. So, I feel like I'm brand new."
He continued: "I feel like the greatest creative period of my life will be in the next, you know, five to 10 years."
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences described Smith's behaviour as 'unacceptable and harmful', subsequently issuing a 10-year ban on his attendance at the prestigious awards ceremony.
Nevertheless, the actor appears to have channelled the turmoil into his artistry, marking his return to music with a new album, "Based On A True Story", which also touches on the Oscars incident.
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