The world has not forgotten the 2022 Oscars moment when Will Smith stormed the stage, shouting, “Keep my wife’s name out of your f------ mouth!” Two years later, the actor-rapper has finally addressed the controversy - not in interviews or apologies, but through his music. His newly released album, ‘Based on a True Story,’ dropped today, and fans are already dissecting its bold lyrical confrontations.

Smith’s album opens with a jarring declaration: Will Smith is canceled. The tracks pull no punches in revisiting the slap heard around the world.

The album’s opening track, ‘Int. Barbershop — Day,’ wastes no time addressing the 2022 Oscars drama. Voices in the song debate Will Smith’s legacy, referencing his Oscar win, subsequent ban, and accusations of racial bias in the Academy’s punishment. Lyrics like “had to give it back” and “keep his wife’s name out of your mouth” directly echo the incident, while collaborators DJ Jazzy Jeff and B. Simone inject sharp critiques of public perception.

The second track, ‘You Lookin’ for Me?,’ doubles down with Smith rapping about his comeback (“my sh-- still hot”) and Academy exclusion (“won't get nominated”), framing the controversy as a catalyst for reinvention. The tracks set the stage for revisiting the night Smith slapped Chris Rock over a G.I. Jane joke about his wife, Jada Pinkett Smith’s alopecia. Despite winning Best Actor for King Richard minutes later, the Academy banned him from events for ten years- a decision dissected in the album. 

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Will Smith’s career trajectory post-slap reveals a star navigating redemption and box office extremes, proving his star power remains unshaken despite controversy beyond the music. 

Will Smith’s first post-slap film, Emancipation (2022), flopped spectacularly, earning just $3,000 per screen against a $120–$162 million reported budget. Critics labeled it a career low. Yet 2024’s Bad Boys: Ride or Die marked a stunning turnaround, grossing approximately $404.5 million globally. The $100 million-budgeted sequel proved audiences still crave Smith’s charisma. Hollywood has taken notice. Smith is set to star in Sony’s sci-fi thriller Resistor, adapt Daniel Suarez’s novel Influx, and reunite with Michael Bay for Fast and Loose.

Smith also confirmed that a sequel to his 2008 superhero film Hancock is in development, with plans to approach Zendaya for a pivotal role. An I Am Legend sequel alongside Michael B. Jordan is also in development. During a recent Associated Press interview, Smith sidestepped questions about appealing his Oscars ban, stating he is focused on being the best human he can be. From music to movies, Smith’s latest moves suggest a star determined to reclaim his throne- one bold project at a time.

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What do you think of Will Smith’s comeback? Can music redeem his legacy? Share your thoughts below!