Will Smith’s Career Comeback: Overcoming Challenges Post-Slap-gate Incident

Will Smith, a renowned actor, faced a significant setback in his career following the infamous Slap-gate incident at the 2022 Oscars involving Chris Rock.

However, in early 2024, Smith is diligently working on new projects to make a strong comeback.

One notable decision he made in his career was inspired by fellow actor Denzel Washington, although it is not a choice he looks back on with great fondness.

Both Smith and Washington have established themselves as accomplished actors, each with an impressive track record of 23 films grossing over $100 million at the box office.

Despite his success, the Slap-gate incident led to a temporary pause in several of Smith's projects.

Determined to bounce back, the actor, known for his role in The Fresh Prince, is putting in the effort to revive his career with upcoming projects such as the movie Sugar Bandits and the fourth installment of the Bad Boys series in early 2024.

One of the instances where Smith faced criticism was when Sir Ian McKellen expressed disapproval of his decision to follow Washington's advice regarding his performance in the 1993 film Six Degrees of Separation.

In the movie, Smith portrayed Paul Poitier, a con artist infiltrating the Manhattan art world, after gaining recognition from his role in The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air and his film debut in Where the Day Takes You in 1992.

A pivotal moment arose during the filming of Six Degrees of Separation when Smith declined to perform an on-screen kiss with another male actor, Anthony Michael Hall, who played an infatuated MIT student.

Feeling uneasy about the scene, Smith chose not to go ahead with it.

To resolve this issue, a double was used to stand in for Smith during the intimate moment, where he was supposed to kiss Hall.

Reports suggest that Smith's decision to refuse the kiss scene was influenced by Washington's advice.

Although Smith initially regretted his choice, acknowledging its impact on the authenticity of his performance and the film as a whole, he later reflected on his immaturity and insecurities at the time.

Smith admitted that he lacked the emotional stability to fully commit artistically to that aspect of the film, emphasizing the valuable lesson he learned from the experience.

Sir Ian McKellen, who worked alongside Smith in Six Degrees of Separation, shared his perspective on the matter during a 2015 interview.

He commended Smith as a competent actor but highlighted the refusal to perform the on-screen kiss as a notable misstep.

McKellen, known for his advocacy for LGBTQ+ rights, criticized Smith's decision, stating that such hesitation was unnecessary and unseemly.

In a bold move, McKellen confronted Smith publicly by giving him a kiss on the lips outside a cinema, underscoring the importance of embracing all aspects of a role without reservation.