Will Smith slapped Chris Rock at the 94th Academy Awards when the presenter joked about his wife’s shaved head.
Will Smith won the Academy Award the same evening for King Richard, followed by a 10-year ban from the Oscars.

Will Smith is indeed the jack of all trades in the entertainment industry. A music artist, a TV icon, a visionary film producer, and an Oscar-winning actor, he has done it all. The Men in Black actor’s career started back in the mid-1980s when he became part of a hip-hop duo with DJ Jazzy Jeff. However, his popularity skyrocketed when he was featured in the popular ’90s sitcom, The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air.

Will Smith. Credits: Wikimedia Commons

The show opened Smith’s door to stardom as he went on to embrace a wide variety of roles and starred in critically acclaimed dramas like The Pursuit of Happyness, Six Degrees of Separation, Ali, and many more. However, Will Smith threw all his fame and stardom away when he slapped Chris Rock, the presenter of the Best Documentary feature at 94th Academy Awards back in 2022, eventually derailing his career.

Will Smith Would’ve Won 2 Oscars in a Row Before He Derailed His Acting Career

It has been two years since Will Smith made headlines for slapping Chris Rock. The incident took place after Rock cracked a joke on Smith’s wife, Jada Pinkett Smith, for her shaved head. The slap sent shockwaves around the world as he went calmly on the stage and slapped Rock across the face, before he returned to his seat and shouted, “keep my wife’s name out of your f**king mouth.”

Will Smith slapping Chris Rock

Controversially, later that evening, the Aladdin actor won the award for Best Actor for his portrayal in King Richard. The actor apologized for his actions but soon faced a decade-long ban from the Academy. Two years after the infamous incident, a leading industry figure, and a senior Academy member, came forward exclusively to The Sun, stating how the Ali actor was on the verge of a “double Oscar win,” for his 2022 film, Emancipation, had he not been banned from the prestigious organization.

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The senior Academy member stated, “scr**ed himself out of a second Oscar nomination for sure” and a “d*mn good chance” of a double win. The member further added, 

“Will’s performance is deserving of an Oscar. It was a supreme film and a powerful performance. There is no question had he not attacked Chris, [he] would have been a shoo-in for a Best Actor nomination.”

Will Smith for Best Actor in “King Richard” at 2022 Academy Awards Ceremony. Credits: REUTERS

He continued,

“And to be honest, the way he campaigned last time, he would have certainly been a joint favorite alongside Brendan Fraser for taking home the statue. He could have won two years in a row had things gone his way.”

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However, the question remains: If Will Smith’s portrayal in the 2022 drama was so gripping, then could it would have won him an Academy Award for the second year in a row, had he not been banned for a decade?

Was Will Smith’s Performance in Emancipation Good Enough for a 2nd Academy Award?

The I am Legend actor’s portrayal in the 2022 historical drama was indeed praise-worthy, as the actor showcased profound depth and emotional complexity that resonated highly with the viewers. The historical drama featured Smith in the role of Peter, a runaway slave fighting for his freedom in the treacherous lands of Louisiana. The actor featured raw intensity and had an unwavering commitment to the character.

Will Smith as Peter in Emancipation

Throughout the film, the Hitch actor showcased the trauma he has experienced throughout his life as a slave. With the character being constantly pursued by a monomaniacal runaway tracker on horseback, Peter is desperate to be reunited with his family.

The director, Antoine Fuqua, built a perfect movie with the right amount of action and drama, mounting the film on an epic spectacle narrating the horrors of slavery and the strength it takes to survive as a slave. However, Brendan Fraser, who won the Academy Award for his role in The Whale, was equally impressive, as he showcased how an obese man tackles grief and isolation with a nuanced depth and sensitivity.

Brendan Fraser in The Whale

Fraser’s portrayal showcased authenticity and vulnerability to the point where the audience could see themselves in the role. Nonetheless, while The Mummy actor underwent a massive physical change, Smith’s portrayal of a slave that showcases the psychological turmoil was more heartbreaking and compelling.

As IndieWire stated, “In a world where The Slap never took place, Will Smith would be looking at another Oscar nomination for his performance as the enslaved person known to history as Whipped Peter.” This showcases how the actor could have won another Academy Award had he not derailed his career with that slap.