Will Smith references Chris Rock Oscars slap on new album, warning to keep his wife's name out

Will Smith addresses his 2022 Oscars slap on his new album, “Based on a True Story.” In the opening track, “Int. Barbershop — Day,” he acknowledges being “canceled” and references the incident multiple times throughout the album. He raps about winning an Oscar but claims he was pressured to return it due to race, though he never actually had to give it back. In “You Lookin’ for Me?,” he asserts his comeback despite industry setbacks.Smith slapped Chris Rock onstage after the comedian joked about Jada Pinkett Smith’s shaved head, which is due to alopecia. He later apologized but was banned from the Academy for 10 years. Rock addressed the incident in his 2023 Netflix special, joking that he still felt the impact.Jada later revealed she and Smith had been separated for years before the Oscars moment. They have since worked on their relationship, with Jada saying the slap made her realize she wouldn’t leave him.Smith has been rebuilding his public image, engaging on social media, receiving a street named after him in Philadelphia, and starring in “Bad Boys: Ride or Die.” His album marks his first solo music project in nearly 20 years.