Director Antoine Fuqua Thinks ‘Emancipation’ Movie Played a Role in Will Smith and Chris Rock Oscars Slap: I Hope People ‘Forgive’ Him

Showing their support. Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith walked their first red carpet together since the actor made headlines for slapping Chris Rock at the 2022 Oscars.

Fifth Season Co-CEO Chris Rice has said the pressure on media stocks is creating a by-product for globally-minded production companies: more co-production opportunities.

Will Smith is out and about promoting the hell out of his new drama, “Emancipation,” which Apple is pushing heavily this awards season. And as you might expect, whenever he is interviewed, not only does he get the chance to talk about the film, but he has to give an explanation/apology for his actions earlier this year at the Oscars when he slapped Chris Rock on stage.

Will Smith is answering questions about the infamous Oscars slap.

, Smith appeared on The Daily Show with Trevor Noah to promote his upcoming film Emancipation and discuss how he's spent his year post-slap.Noah immediately turned his attention Smith's starring role in Emancipation, a slavery epic from director Antoine Fuqua about Whipped Peter—an escaped slave whose heavily scarred back was photographed and became one of the most graphic depictions of slavery, helping to galvanize abolitionists to end the institution once and for all. “Emancipation is not the kind of film we would expect to see you in as Will Smith,” said host Trevor Noah.

An emotional Will Smith revisited Oscar night with Trevor Noah on Monday by explaining what drove him to slap Chris Rock in front of millions of viewers.

Acknowledging the hesitation. Ahead of the release of Emancipation — his first movie since he infamously slapped Chris Rock at the Oscars — Will Smith is getting candid about the type of reaction he anticipates from fans.

Will Smith is sharing his thoughts about people who might not be ready to see his new film Emancipation after his infamous Oscars slap.

, who told she thinks the internet cares more about a young actor's parents than the industry does. “People are going to have preconceived ideas about you or how you got there, and I can definitely say that nothing is going to get you the part except for being right for the part,” claimed. “It’s weird to me to reduce somebody to the idea that they’re only there because it’s a generational thing,” she added. “It just doesn’t make any sense.

Shortly after the dust settled and people started to fully comprehend that Will Smith actually slapped Chris Rock on live TV watched by millions at the Oscars, one of the first questions was about what might happen to his upcoming film, “Emancipation.” This is a movie that was seemingly primed and ready for a huge Oscars push this year and possibly another win for Smith as the lead actor.

It’s a bit sad that “the slap” from this year’s Oscars, where Will Smith assaulted Chris Rock on stage, is overshadowing the release of “Emancipation.” No, that isn’t to say Will Smith is innocent of wrongdoing and shouldn’t be criticized. Instead, it just means that “Emancipation” clearly has all the makings of a powerful film, but the real-world controversy seems to be diluting the message just a bit.

Shortly after the dust settled and people started to fully comprehend that Will Smith actually slapped Chris Rock on live TV watched by millions at the Oscars, one of the first questions was about what might happen to his upcoming film, “Emancipation.” This is a movie that was seemingly primed and ready for a huge Oscars push this year and possibly another win for Smith as the lead actor.