Will Smith is finally seeing a rise in his popularity, more than a year after his slap gate incident. The actor had received a level of criticism that forced him to go underground for a while. It also affected his image majorly, with both fans and celebrities calling him out for months. Some even thought that could be the end of his career, but the actor managed to bounce back.

After spending more than three decades in the industry, the actor reached the pinnacle of entertainment. But the Oscar incident certainly put a big dent in his popularity. Now it looks like the audience is finally ready to move on and give him a second chance. Here is how numbers state the change in his favor.

Polls indicate a better future for Will Smith

Considering the level of scrutiny Smith received after the Oscar incident, some were skeptical of whether he would ever recover again. But according to YouGov, the actor’s popularity has inflated to 56%. Now the number may not seem extraordinary, but considering the events of last year, this is progress. The Bad Boys actor’s popularity was at 66% before the slap gate incident. Post that, it spiraled down to 49% in the second quarter of 2022. But his continuous efforts to bounce back proved to be fruitful.

Initially, his big-budgeted Emancipation movie also took a hit. There were those who refused to watch the movie to oppose him. Despite that, the entertainer continued to make public appearances. He would attend social causes, turn up on invitations, post entertaining content on social media, and more. Plus, he apologized for his actions, but neither Chris Rock nor his fan base were ready to accept or move on from it.

The development in popularity also meant he could continue with his future projects.

Several of his projects have resumed months after the incident

While Emancipation was finally released, some people feel that moviemakers should have waited a bit more before the release. His projects came to a temporary halt in the wake of the criticism. But the increase in popularity has given a green flag, and the actor is now set to star in a line of sequels. Bad Boys 4, Bright 2, and I Am Legend 2 are sequels of some of his hit franchises that will be landing on the big screens in the near future.

What do you think of Will Smith’s increase in popularity? Share your opinions in the comments.