June 10th 2024.
Over the past weekend, Will Smith's latest buddy cop film, Bad Boys: Ride or Die, dominated the box office with the help of his longtime co-star, Martin Lawrence. But despite the film's warm reception, there is one public figure who is not supporting it until Will takes the time to address a certain incident that has been causing controversy.
Sports commentator Stephen A. Smith used his nightly podcast on Sunday, June 9, to explain why he is boycotting the latest installment of the Bad Boys franchise. In a segment titled "Are we embracing Will Smith again?" Stephen A. called attention to the fact that Will has been avoiding the topic of his slap towards Chris Rock at the 2022 Academy Awards during his press run for the film.
"I'm not saying that Will needs to apologize, but as I watch him and Martin Lawrence promoting this movie, I can't help but wonder why he hasn't addressed it," Stephen A. shared. "I understand that the studios may not want him to, but at some point, he has an obligation to talk to the Black community."
Stephen A. also expressed his love and admiration for Will, but explained that the actor still owes an explanation to the Black community for the setback he caused by slapping another Black man on an international stage. "Mistakes happen, but you need to have a conversation about why you did what you did," Stephen A. stated.
He also pointed out that the incident may have cost Will and director Antoine Fuqua an Oscar for their film "Emancipation," and tarnished the historic event for Black producer Will Packer. Stephen A. also shared his belief that Will would not have physically assaulted any white comedians in the same manner, and this has caused him and many others to struggle with supporting a Will Smith film.
When a clip of Stephen A.'s podcast made its way onto social media, he received backlash for his strong stance against Will. However, he stood by his claims and teased that he would have more to say on "The Stephen A. Smith Show/Podcast" the following day.
The success of Bad Boys: Ride or Die at the box office, with a global earnings of $105 million and $56 million domestically, proved that Will Smith is still a box office draw even after his fall from grace. But for Stephen A. and many others, a few apologies and box office numbers are not enough to make up for the incident at the Oscars. They are demanding more from Will.
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