Latest news with #1Xtra
Yahoo
18-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Will Smith says Oscars slap fallout was brutal
Three years after he slapped comedian Chris Rock on stage at the Oscars, Will Smith says making a mistake so publicly was "brutal". "The last few years for me have been really deep reflection," the actor tells 1Xtra's Remi Burgz. "After the Oscars I shut it down for a minute and really went into the internal work and just taking a big, strong, honest look at myself." Will was banned from the awards ceremony for 10 years after he hit the comedian for joking about his wife's shaved head - a result of alopecia, a hair loss condition. "For the first time in my career, [I was] having to deal with a level of disapproval that I never had to experience," Will says. "The addiction to the approval of others that I had to dissolve, it was brutal." At the 2022 ceremony in Los Angeles, Chris Rock mocked Will's wife Jada's appearance. Clips showing Will immediately marching on stage and slapping him across the face and telling him to keep his wife's name out his mouth have been viewed millions of times online. Will resigned from the Oscars Academy shortly after, saying his actions were "shocking, painful, and inexcusable". The 56-year-old tells 1Xtra the fallout has also given him to time to reflect. "It was just like there was a manhole cover over some unexplored areas and the manhole cover came off," he says. "It was scary for a minute what was in there. "But then all of a sudden, all these new thoughts, new energies, new creativity came through like a geyser and it started showing up as music." Earlier this year Will released his first album in 20 years, Based On A True Story, and tells 1Xtra he asked for advice before heading back to the studio. "When I started writing, I called Jay Z and I called Kendrick," he says. "Kendrick said you have to say those things you've always been scared to say and Jay Z said don't even go near it if you're not trying to tell the truth." The new music hasn't been a hit with critics. Pitchfork said it was "excruciatingly corny" while Rolling Stone described it as "cringey... clunky and dated" in a two-and-a-half star review. But Will says it was a "fun way to express the madness of what goes on in my head". "It is the exploration of what I call the 'despicable prisoners'. "It's the parts of myself that have been banished, the parts of myself I'm not allowed to talk about on the radio, the part of myself I'm not even allowed to acknowledge is real. "Working in that space of authenticity, honesty and imperfection, allowing that to grow into a higher perfection than the imagery of Will Smith is where I am as an artist and as a human right now." Remi's full interview with Will Smith is available to stream on BBC Sounds. Why did Will Smith hit Chris Rock? Will Smith resigns from Oscars Academy over slap Will Smith banned from Oscars for 10 years Listen to Newsbeat live at 12:45 and 17:45 weekdays - or listen back here.
BBC News
17-06-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Reaction of dat Oscars slap make me think
Three years afta e slap comedian Chris Rock for on top stage during di 2022 Oscars Awards, Will Smith say to make dat kain mistake for public no dey right. "Dis last few years for me na dat of real deep reflection," di actor tell 1Xtra Remi Burgz. "Afta di Oscars I shut down for a minute and really work on myself, I bin take a big, strong, honest look at myself." Dem ban Will from di awards ceremony for 10 years afta e slap di comedian becos e joke about head wey im wife shave – wey she get sake of alopecia, one hair loss condition. "For di first time for my career, I deal wit some kain level of disapproval wey I no ever experience bifor," Will tok. "I bin dey addicted to di approval of odas, and I gatz end am, e dey brutal." During di 2022 ceremony for Los Angeles, Chris Rock bin mock di way Oga Will wife, Jada Will appearance. Videos wey show how Will immediately march go di stage and sama am slap for im face, and warn am to comot im wife name from im mouth do dey viewed millions of times online. Will resign from di Oscars Academy shortly afta, e say im actions dey "shocking, painful, and inexcusable". Di 56-year-old tell 1Xtra say di fallout don also give am time to reflect. "E just be like say one manhole dey wey cover some unexplored areas and di manhole cover remove," e tok. "E bin dey scary for a minute, like wetin dey there" "But then all of a sudden, all these new thoughts, new energies, new creativity bin come through like fountain and e begin to come out as music." 'Scared to say' Earlier dis year, Will bin release im first album in 20 years, e base di song on one true story, and e ask 1Xtra for advice bifor e go back to di studio. "Wen I bin start to write, I call Jay Z and I call Kendrick," e tok. "Kendrick say you gatz tok those things wey you dey fear to tok about ,and Jay Z tok say no even near am, if you no ready to tok di truth." Critics no too gbadun di new music. Pitchfork tok say e dey "excruciatingly corny" while Rolling Stone describe am as "cringey... clunky and dated" inside one two-and-a-half star review. But Will say na "fun way to express di madness wey dey go on for my head". "Na di exploration of wetin I call di 'despicable prisoners'. "Dis na di parts of myself wey I bin bury, part of myself wey dem no allow me tok about on top radio, di part of myself dem no even allow me acknowledge dey real. "To work for space of authenticity, honesty and imperfection, and to allow am grow into a higher perfection pass di imagery of Will Smith na where I dey now as an artist and as a human right now." Remi full interview wit Will Smith dey available to stream on BBC Sounds.
Wales Online
17-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Wales Online
Will Smith feels ‘brand new' after putting Oscars slap controversy behind him
Will Smith feels 'brand new' after putting Oscars slap controversy behind him The film star and musician said the moment, televised around the world at the 2022 awards, made him take "a big, strong, honest look at myself". Will Smith has announced a new album as well as UK and European tour (Image: Getty Images ) Actor Will Smith has described the work he has done on himself since slapping comedian Chris Rock at the Oscars as "brutal but beautiful", or "brutiful". The film star and musician said the moment, televised around the world at the 2022 awards, made him take "a big, strong, honest look at myself". Appearing on 1Xtra, Smith told host Remi Burgz: "After the Oscars I, like, shut it down for a minute and really went into the internal work... "All of a sudden, it was like there was a manhole cover over some unexplored areas, and like the manhole cover came off, and it was scary for a minute. "Then all of a sudden all of these new thoughts, new energies and new creativity came through. "So, I feel like I'm brand new. Article continues below "I feel like the greatest creative period of my life will be in the next, you know, five to 10 years." Smith, who has starred in blockbusters such as the Men In Black and Bad Boys franchises, stormed the stage at the 94th Academy Awards and hit Rock after he made a joke about his wife Jada Pinkett Smith's hair loss. Smith won the Oscar for best actor for his leading role in King Richard the same night. Asked what it was like to make such a mistake in front of the world, Smith said: "For the first time in my career, having to deal with a level of disapproval that I'd never had to experience. "It's brutiful – it's brutal but beautiful. "The addiction to the approval of others that I had to dissolve, brutiful." Article continues below The Academy Awards called Smith's behaviour "unacceptable and harmful", and banned him from the ceremony for a period of 10 years. Smith released his first record in two decades earlier this year. The album, Based On A True Story, also references the Oscars incident.
IOL News
17-06-2025
- Entertainment
- IOL News
Will Smith reflects on his transformation after the infamous Oscars slap
Smith described the introspective journey as 'brutal but beautiful' or 'brutiful', ultimately leading to a new era of creativity and self-awareness. In a candid conversation on BBC's "1Xtra" with host Remi Burgz, Will Smith opened up about the profound transformation he has undergone since the infamous incident at the 2022 Oscars, where he slapped comedian Chris Rock. Reflecting on the shocking moment, which was televised worldwide, the actor acknowledged that it forced him to take a 'big, strong, honest look at myself". In the aftermath of the incident, which occurred after Rock made a joke about his wife Jada Pinkett Smith's hair loss, Smith decided to take a step back and engage in deep self-reflection. 'After the Oscars I, like, shut it down for a minute and really went into the internal work,' he explained during the interview. "All of a sudden, it was like there was a manhole cover over some unexplored areas, and like the manhole cover came off, and it was scary for a minute ... Then all of a sudden all of these new thoughts, new energies and new creativity came through. So, I feel like I'm brand new." He continued: "I feel like the greatest creative period of my life will be in the next, you know, five to 10 years." The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences described Smith's behaviour as 'unacceptable and harmful', subsequently issuing a 10-year ban on his attendance at the prestigious awards ceremony. Nevertheless, the actor appears to have channelled the turmoil into his artistry, marking his return to music with a new album, "Based On A True Story", which also touches on the Oscars incident.
Leader Live
17-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Leader Live
Will Smith feels ‘brand new' after putting Oscars slap controversy behind him
The film star and musician said the moment, televised around the world at the 2022 awards, made him take 'a big, strong, honest look at myself'. Appearing on 1Xtra, Smith told host Remi Burgz: 'After the Oscars I, like, shut it down for a minute and really went into the internal work… 'All of a sudden, it was like there was a manhole cover over some unexplored areas, and like the manhole cover came off, and it was scary for a minute. 'Then all of a sudden all of these new thoughts, new energies and new creativity came through. 'So, I feel like I'm brand new. 'I feel like the greatest creative period of my life will be in the next, you know, five to 10 years.' Smith, who has starred in blockbusters such as the Men In Black and Bad Boys franchises, stormed the stage at the 94th Academy Awards and hit Rock after he made a joke about his wife Jada Pinkett Smith's hair loss. Smith won the Oscar for best actor for his leading role in King Richard the same night. Asked what it was like to make such a mistake in front of the world, Smith said: 'For the first time in my career, having to deal with a level of disapproval that I'd never had to experience. 'It's brutiful – it's brutal but beautiful. 'The addiction to the approval of others that I had to dissolve, brutiful.' The Academy Awards called Smith's behaviour 'unacceptable and harmful', and banned him from the ceremony for a period of 10 years. Smith released his first record in two decades earlier this year. The album, Based On A True Story, also references the Oscars incident.
