Will Smith Today: Oscars Slap, Jada Split, New Projects

Few moments in Oscars history have sparked as much debate as the night Will Smith walked onto the stage and slapped Chris Rock. The 2022 incident reshaped public perception of one of Hollywood’s most bankable stars, and the consequences continue to ripple through his career and personal life.

Born: September 25, 1968 ·
Best Actor Oscar: King Richard, 2022 ·
Academy ban: 10 years from Academy events ·
Married since: 1997 ·
Latest movie: Bad Boys: Ride or Die, 2024

Seven key facts about Will Smith, from his early career to his current status, show the range of a man who has been a rapper, sitcom star, blockbuster lead, and Oscar winner.

What happened with Will Smith?

The 94th Academy Awards on March 27, 2022, were meant to celebrate cinema. Instead, they became the stage for one of the most shocking moments in live television history. Will Smith walked onstage and slapped presenter Chris Rock after a joke about Jada Pinkett Smith’s shaved head, then shouted, “Keep my wife’s name out of your mouth.” (Wikipedia)

Why did Will Smith slap Chris Rock?

• Chris Rock’s joke referenced Jada Pinkett Smith’s alopecia, a condition that causes hair loss (E! Online).
• Smith later said in an apology video that he was “out of line” and that his behavior was “unacceptable.”

What were the consequences for Will Smith?

• Minutes later, Smith won Best Actor for King Richard.
• On April 1, 2022, he resigned from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.
• On April 8, 2022, the Academy banned him from all its events, including the Oscars, for 10 years (Entertainment Weekly).

The implication: the incident’s fallout continues to define Smith’s public narrative.

Is Will Smith still living with Jada?

Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith married in 1997 and have long been one of Hollywood’s most talked-about couples. But their relationship took a new turn in 2023 when Jada disclosed that the couple had been living separate lives since 2016.

When did Jada say they started living separately?

• In October 2023, while promoting her memoir Worthy, Jada Pinkett Smith told NBC News she and Will had been living separately since 2016 (NBC News).
• She described it as a “fully separate” life, though they remain legally married.

Are Will Smith and Jada legally divorced?

• As of early 2025, no divorce filing has been made public.
• They have continued to appear together at family events — for example, at the premiere of Bad Boys: Ride or Die in 2024.

The pattern: their arrangement defies conventional labels, maintaining a bond that is neither typical marriage nor formal divorce.

What is Will Smith doing today?

Despite the professional fallout, Will Smith has kept working. His 2024 schedule includes a major film release, a new music album, and international brand appearances.

What films is Will Smith working on?

• Bad Boys: Ride or Die (2024) — the fourth installment in the franchise with Martin Lawrence.
• An I Am Legend sequel is reportedly in development (Wikipedia).
• He exited Sugar Bandits in September 2024 due to scheduling conflicts but remains attached as producer.

Is Will Smith making new music?

• In 2025, he released Based on a True Story, his first full-length solo album since 2005’s Lost and Found (Entertainment Weekly).
• The album’s opening lyrics directly reference the 2022 Oscars slap and his marriage.

What is Will Smith promoting now?

• He has been actively promoting The Dictador, his rum brand, with recent appearances in São Paulo, Zagreb, and Dubai (per his Instagram).
• His social media feed shows a mix of film, music, and lifestyle content.

The catch: his ability to sustain both tracks will depend on audience willingness to separate the artist from the incident.

What does Jim Carrey say about Will Smith?

Jim Carrey was one of the few prominent voices who publicly condemned not just the slap, but the audience’s reaction to it. His comments were widely shared and added a layer of moral criticism to the incident.

Why was Jim Carrey upset about the standing ovation?

• In a CBS interview, Carrey said he was “sickened” by the standing ovation Smith received after winning Best Actor (ABC7 Chicago).
• He called Hollywood “spineless en masse” for applauding Smith.

Did Jim Carrey call out the Oscars audience?

• Carrey said Smith had no right to walk onstage and hit Rock because of words spoken from the audience.
• He added that he would have sued Smith for $200 million because “the video would exist forever” (E! Online).
• He also said Smith should have been arrested (The Independent).

“I was sickened. The standing ovation … it just felt like it was a very clear indication that we don’t give a damn anymore.”

— Jim Carrey, CBS News, March 2022

Why do we not see Jim Carrey anymore?

Jim Carrey’s reduced public profile is not a mystery — he has been open about wanting a quieter life. But his comments about the Smith incident also highlight a broader disillusionment with Hollywood.

Is Jim Carrey retired from acting?

• Carrey has reduced his film output, focusing on painting and personal projects.
• He returned to the big screen for Sonic the Hedgehog 3 in 2024, but has not committed to a full slate of projects.

What has Jim Carrey said about his acting career?

• In interviews, he has said he is “fairly serious” about stepping back from acting and wants a quieter life (BBC Culture).
• He has described the press cycle as exhausting and values his time away from the public eye.

The pattern: Carrey’s seclusion gives his rare public statements outsized impact, making his condemnation of the slap particularly resonant.

“We’ve been separated since 2016. I think it’s important that people know that we are not a divorced couple … we are two people who are committed to each other in a different way.”

— Jada Pinkett Smith, Today show, October 2023

“I was out of line. I’m here to say I’m sorry and I’m committed to doing the work.”

— Will Smith, apology video, July 2022

The pattern is clear: the slap and its aftermath forced a realignment for both Smith and Carrey. For Smith, the path forward is about reclaiming a career while living with a permanent stain. For Carrey, the incident became a reason to step further away. The question now is whether Smith can rebuild the trust of an audience that saw him lose control in real time.

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