Will Smith faced intense backlash after slapping Chris Rock at the 2022 Oscars, which led to his temporary ban from Academy events. Three years later, Smith has released a new album called “Based on a True Story,” which addresses the infamous incident.
The album’s first words announce that Smith is “cancelled,” with lines like “I heard he won the Oscar but he had to give it back.” Smith won the Best Actor award for his role in King Richard, but the incident overshadowed his achievement. He was not asked to return his Oscar and voluntarily resigned from the Academy.
The second song on the album, ‘You Lookin’ for Me?’ includes lines like “Took a lot, I’m back on top / Y’all gon’ have to get acclimated.” The track appears to be a response to Chris Rock’s comments about Smith’s marriage. In his Netflix stand-up special Selective Outrage, Rock suggested that Smith’s reaction was more about public scrutiny than the actual joke.
Despite Smith’s apology, many fans and critics still feel he overreacted. Some have praised him for standing up for himself, while others think he crossed a line. The incident highlights the complexities of chivalry and the challenges of navigating sensitive topics like mental health.
Source: https://deadline.com/2025/03/will-smith-raps-chris-rock-slap-oscars-2022-new-album-1236353963