Will Smith Name-Dropped In 'iRobot' Co-Star's Film Publicity Drama Recollection
The Hollywood veteran's once-beloved reputation has experienced a significant decline following his heated encounter with comedian Chris Rock at the 2022 Academy Awards.
The viral Oscars slap sparked a wave of consequences for Will Smith, drawing attention to his past, especially his differences with other entertainers. Now, one of his former co-stars has seemingly accused the actor of restricting his publicity for a movie.
Alan Tudyk Implies Will Smith Did Not Like Sharing The Spotlight
Actor Alan Tudyk opened up about working with Smith during a June 15 appearance on "Toon'd In with Jimmy Cummings" that recently went viral. He recalled starring alongside the older entertainer on the 2004 hit movie "I, Robot."
Tudyk played the character Sonny, a robot accused of murder, while Smith played Del Spooner, a detective prejudiced against robots. To bring Sonny to life, Tudyk's performance revolved around CGI, motion capture, and his incredible voice acting skills.
Tudyk stressed that he "put a lot into" playing the robot, including extra work hours during the production process.
His efforts bore fruit during the movie's testing with trial audiences, with many loving his character more than Smith's. However, he implied the latter didn't enjoy sharing the spotlight, leading to shocking consequences.
Alan Tudyk's Publicity Allegedly Ended
"They were doing test audiences with the movie. They score the characters, and I got word back, 'Alan, you're testing higher than Will Smith,'" Tudyk recalled. He soon realised that the news wasn't a cause for celebration as his presence in the promotional materials immediately disappeared.
Although Tudyk did not name Smith as responsible for his lack of publicity, he hinted that the actor's fame might have played a role in it. He claimed he was "so shocked" that his name was no longer mentioned during the movie's promotions while Smith was everywhere.
The alleged publicity incident isn't the first time that Smith has made waves for diminishing a co-star's presence with his. In 1993, his differences with his "Fresh Prince of Bel-Air" co-star Janet Hubert ultimately led to the actress's dismissal from the hit sitcom.
Janet Hubert Reflects On Her Infamous Beef With The 'King Richard' Star
Smith and Hubert patched things up in 2020 during the reunion special of their show. The pair addressed their contentious relationship, with the actor admitting he felt "threatened" by his former co-star and the world as a rising star in his 20s.
Hubert suffered the consequences of his insecurity as he painted her as problematic to work with, leading to her departure after the sitcom's third season. Naturally, the backlash affected her career, but she noted in a 2021 interview that she was finally at peace after the reconciliation.
"We text each other back and forth all the time. As a matter of fact, we have a very good relationship," Hubert said about her reunion with Smith, per PEOPLE.
She added that she held no negative feelings towards Smith, believing they could have resolved their years-long differences sooner if they had been willing to talk.
The Oscar Winner Claims A Co-star Didn't Speak To Him For Months
Following the Oscars drama between Smith and Rock, the actor returned to the spotlight with the movie "Emancipation." He got candid about the challenges he faced portraying Peter Smith, a runaway slave from a Louisiana plantation in the 1860s.
Smith opened up about the movie on a 2022 episode of the "Red Table Talk," which he hosted in his wife's and mother-in-law's absence. FOX News reported that he recalled his co-star Ben Foster gave him the cold shoulder during their first meeting.
"And I was like, 'Oh, he must not have seen me.' And then for six months, he didn't speak to me. He didn't make eye contact with me," Smith claimed. He added that the silent treatment ended on Foster's last day on set, noting the entertainer came over to introduce himself.
Will Smith Allegedly In Financial Crisis
Smith made headlines last month after sources claimed he was offloading his real estate to ease his financial burdens. The Blast covered the story, reporting that he sold a five-bedroom Maryland mansion for $795,000.
The Hollywood veteran also listed a Woodland Hills Home for $2 million earlier this year. An insider alleged Smitth was selling his properties because he could no longer afford their costly maintenance fees.
Another source claimed Smith's finances suffered from the aftermath of the Oscars slap, noting his income was doing little to sustain the luxuries he and his wife were used to. Smith sparked backlash after slapping Rock for making an unscripted joke about Jada Pinkett Smith's alopecia.
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