Is Will Smith 'uncancelling' himself? Actor has been on a mission to rebuild his career
By MADISON BURGESS
The 2022 Academy Awards should've been a career high for Will Smith, with the star winning his first Best Actor Oscar in his illustrious three-decade career.
Yet the evening was overshadowed by him jumping on the stage and slapping comedian Chris Rock in the face - with many questioning if the stunt would stop him from ever working again.
Indeed, it seems his life and career has been on a downward spiral since the incident.
His reported £28 million role in slavery epic Emancipation failed to make an impact at the box office in 2022, leaving his movie career somewhat in the wilderness.
More recently, Will garnered attention for an 'inappropriate' flirty display and an apparent kiss with India Martinez, 39, as they performed the song First Love at the Premio Lo Nuestro award show in Miami last month.
Yet despite the setbacks, Will has unveiled a number of new projects of late - seemingly throwing himself back into the spotlight and attempting to make his Hollywood comeback.
So is Will Smith officially 'uncancelling' himself? MailOnline spoke to a brand expert to uncover the evidence.
Is Will Smith 'uncancelling' himself? The actor has been on a mission to rebuild his career with viral videos and a return to his Fresh Prince roots - three years after THAT Oscars slap
On Tuesday, Will announced his Based on a True Story summer tour, which is his 'first ever' headline tour andwill see the actor visit a host of venues up and down the UK
On Tuesday, Will announced his Based on a True Story summer tour, which is his 'first ever' headline tour andwill see the actor visit a host of venues up and down the UK.
It coincides with an album of the same name which is set to be released later this month and will be his first in two decades.
These live shows will see him performing songs from the new album along with his classic hits including Jiggy Wit It, Miami, Summertime and more.
The 14-track album will feature a variety of collaborators including DJ Jazzy Jeff, Teyana Talor, and Jac Ross.
And its cover shows Will paying tribute to his Fresh Prince character with a Philadelphia Varsity jacket and baseball cap as he poses in front of a white backdrop with his hand tipping his cap.
But, some fans are shocked to discover that most of the UK venues have a capacity of less than 5,000, which seems small compared to the actor's huge level of fame.
The locations include the likes of Scarborough and Wolverhampton, but skip out bigger cities like Birmingham, Glasgow and Dublin.
Ahead of his solo tour, he is set to perform at multiple international festivals, including Mawazine in Morocco, POSITIV Festival in France, Dreambeach in Spain and BIG ART Festival in Italy.
Announcing the news of his album earlier this week, Will, whose last studio album Lost and Found was released in 2005, wrote in Instagram: I'M GOING ON TOUR THIS SUMMER!!
'We're hitting up UK & Europe to bring U all the hits, some new joints, and a few surprises ;-) All these years, I've NEVER done a headline tour and I can't wait to see you guys!!'
Brand and culture expert Nick Ede said: 'I think the best way to make a comeback is to connect with fans'
He gained recognition in American hip-hop duo DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince who released Grammy-winning single Parents Just Don't Understand (pictured in 1989)
Fans rushed to the comments to quip: 'Life is complete!!!! Been a fan since the fresh prince days !!!!!!! Omg' and 'I'm excited, I can't wait'.
Brand and culture expert Nick Ede said: 'I think the best way to make a comeback is to connect with fans.
'By going on tour he's not alienating himself he's coming to them. This makes him more likeable and more accessible too.
'Having a movie star like Will smith perform in Manchester, Wolverhampton and Brixton academy, smaller more intimate venues, allows him to get up close and personal.'
He added: He will most likely visit local restaurants and sight see wherever he goes to give locals bragging righst that they say a Hollywood icon in their home town.
'For many stars who have lost it, going back to basics and giving loyal fans what they want is very appealing.
'Stars like Christina Aguilera whose appeal diminished a few years ago went on tour playing just their hits and in doing so proved their talent and played into the goodwill and nostalgia about them.
'Now she's back on top commanding millions in vegas and producing West End shows.'
He concluded: 'I'm sure will will be doing the chat show circuits making self deprecating remarks about his past, leaving his ego at the door and letting his personality shine through.
'He may also do some charity work in the places he visits on his tour. His appeal to multi generations means that his star power can be a major force for good and I think he will lean into this too in his bid to regain his Hollywood crown.'
Taking part in a viral TikTok trend
It's been a busy month for Will, who went viral earlier this month as he recreated his iconic Fresh Prince of Bel-Air dance with former co-star Tatyana Ali and a surprise appearance from singer Doechii
The duo brought back their silly ditty for a whole new generation in video posted to social media on Friday, which was set to the trending song Anxiety by Doechii, 26
It's been a busy month for Will, who went viral earlier this month as he recreated his iconic Fresh Prince of Bel-Air dance with former co-star Tatyana Ali and a surprise appearance from singer Doechii.
The duo brought back their silly ditty for a whole new generation in video posted to social media on Friday, which was set to the trending song Anxiety by Doechii, 26.
The original dance saw Ashley Banks (Tatyana) busting a move in her room with her headphones on, but oblivious to the fact Smith had just entered.
Will attempts to gain her attention, but when his efforts fail, he proceeds to mimic her dance moves before she becomes aware of his presence.
In this latest video, soundtracked to Anxiety, Tatyana, 46, is once again wearing headphones as she dances in a living room before Smith, 56, enters.
Will proceeds to copy her dance moves, before Doechii appears and joins in on the fun.
'Waited 35 years for this dance to trend,' Will captioned the post.
Revealing he wants to wants to 'rebuild something beautiful' after THAT Oscars slap
Will famously made headlines when he slapped Chris Rock during the 94th Oscars in March 2022
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Jeremy Clarkson ROASTS Will Smith in Top Gear clip as he mocks the Hollywood star's lyrics
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Will famously made headlines when he slapped Chris Rock during the 94th Oscars in March 2022.
The incident occurred following a joke Chris made about Will's wife, Jada Pinkett Smith's bald head, amid her battle with alopecia,
It prompted Will to make his way to the stage, slap Chris and say 'keep my wife's name out of your f****** mouth.'
Later on he picked up the Oscar for Best Actor for King Richard, bursting into tears onstage but failing to apologise to the comedian.
Will was then was banned from the Oscars until 2032 and has kept a relatively low profile since.
However, in a recent interview with Genius, Will admitted he wants to 'rebuild something beautiful and powerful' after the Oscars incident.
He compared the moment to kintsugi, which is the Japanese art of piecing smashed pottery back together.
Will told the publication: 'I can look at [the Oscars incident] as an absolute mess, horrible, terrible – or I can look at it as a really great kintsugi opportunity, to rebuild something beautiful and powerful.
Talking about one of his new songs, Beautiful Scars, he added: 'I hate admitting that I'm only human – my ego wants to be Superman … The word I was thinking about when I thought about the last couple of years of my life was 'brutaful' – brutal and beautiful.'
However, in a recent interview with Genius , Will admitted he wants to 'rebuild something beautiful and powerful' after the incident
He also seems to get candid about it in the lyrcis, as he raps: 'I hate when I lose it, but I face the music / 'Oh, why did he do it?' See, I'm only human'.
Brand expert Nick believes that Will is 'plugging into nostalgia ' to slowly rebuild his profile/
He added: 'Will Smith is one of the most famous people on the planet and although to many he is most famous for his Oscar slap or his fashion forward children, he has slowly been building his reputation that is seeing him being uncancelled.
'Like many Hollywood stars who have fallen from grace he has been building his reputation in other territories namely Europe, Asia and the UAE.
'With the announcement of his tour and a new album the first in 20 years hes slowly building his profile, playing to his loyal fan base and plugging into the good will and nostalgia that people have for him.
'With his TikTok FreshPprince reunion going viral and the Bad Boys sequel making over 300 million more dollars than it cost it seems like the past is well and truly behind him.'
He continued: 'He's playing on his reputation as a Hollywood icon in countries where he knows hell get a big reception.
'It feels right that someone who has been such a huge star should be getting it back – like Robert Downey jr and Eddie Murphy there are many Hollywood icons who have lost their star power only to regain it in a spectacular way and I think that Will Smith is one of those stars who will never fade and always shine bright.'
Returning to the red carpet and awards shows
Will returned to the Grammys this year, marking his first red carpet appearance since the Oscars drama in 2022
And he did more than just attend - Will made his awards show return when he hit the Grammys stage for a special Quincy Jones tribute (pictured with children Willow and Jaden)
Will returned to the Grammys this year, marking his first red carpet appearance since the Oscars drama in 2022.
He looked to be in high spirits as he stepped out in a black Balmain suit with silver and diamond-encrusted embellishments on his coat.
Will wore matching black pants and black shoes to complete his look at the event, but was not joined by his wife Jada.
And he did more than just attend - Will made his awards show return when he hit the Grammys stage for a special Quincy Jones tribute.
'You probably wouldn't even know who Will Smith was if it wasn't for Quincy Jones,' he said.
He went on to talk about how Quincy 'changed his life,' pointing out that Quincy produced his show The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air.
Being supported by celeb pals and his wife Jada
As he orchestrates his comeback, Will has a slew of celebrity pals who are backing him all the way (Alfonso Ribeiro pictured left on The Fresh Prince of Bel Air with Will pictured right)
Despite a rocky marriage including infedilty, Will's wife Jada and his family have stood by him publicly supporting him
As he orchestrates his comeback, Will has a slew of celebrity pals who are backing him all the way.
In a recent interview on The Jennifer Hudson Show, his Fresh Prince co-star Alfonso Ribeiro said: 'Will is my brother for life He's absolutely the best.'
The actor gushed that 'their friendship and bond has withstood the time of four or five decades.'
He told Jennifer: 'It's wonderful to hear Will give me some of my flowers. Obviously, I give him flowers all the time. He is just so incredible. He's the most talented guy I know and the most dedicated guy I know. It's mutual love.'
Despite a rocky marriage including infidelity, Will's wife Jada and his family have stood by him publicly supporting him.
In 2020, Jada admitted to carrying on a multi-year affair with the musician Alsina during a period when she and Will were separated.
He later admitted to his own extramarital affairs, and in late 2023, Jada clarified that the two had been separated going all the way back to 2016, though she said they don't have any plans to divorce.
Speaking to Red magazine about the Oscars incident, she said: 'I was just really concerned about Will. And I realised in that moment that, as challenging as our relationship can be, I'm always going to be by his side, no matter what.'
While speaking to Daily Mail's YOU Magazine, Jade said 'many positive things came after' Will slapped Chris.
'After all those years trying to figure out if I would leave Will's side, it took that slap for me to see I will never leave him. Who knows where our relationship would be if that hadn't happened?'
Teasing a sequel to one of his biggest movie hits
Will Smith teased a potential sequel to his 2008 superhero hit Hancock on a Twitch stream with Canadian gamer xQc this month; seen in 2022
He said he has a part in mind for Zendaya; pictured January 5
Will revealed that an idea was in the works for a sequel to his hit 2008 superhero film Hancock. He said he has a part in mind for Zendaya
'There's a really cool, really cool Hancock 2 idea,' he announced. 'We haven't even talked about it so I'm gonna give you one little piece — Zendaya will be being being approached for a role in Hancock 2'
During an appearance last month on Twitch with Canadian gamer xQc (real name: Félix Lengyel), Will revealed that an idea was in the works for a sequel to his hit 2008 superhero film Hancock.
'They've been leaking all my information,' he joked after the hosts pointed out that a commenter had mentioned a Hancock sequel.
'There's a really cool, really cool Hancock 2 idea,' he announced. 'We haven't even talked about it so I'm gonna give you one little piece — Zendaya will be being being approached for a role in Hancock 2.'
Hancock's original studio, Sony Pictures, had no comment on Will's plans for a sequel, according to Variety.
The original film was a box office hit in 2008 despite being savaged by critics.
It managed to gross an impressive $629.4 million against a $150 million budget, according to Box Office Mojo, which made it the fourth highest-grossing film of the year, as well as one of Will's most-successful movies.
He starred in the title role of a seemingly immortal man with Superman-like abilities who has fallen on hard times and descended into alcoholism.
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