Will Smith, who started as The Fresh Prince in the entertainment industry, has spent over three decades in the acting industry. While he started with rap and earned Grammys for his work, Smith realized his true calling was acting soon enough. A popular debut with the sitcom The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air set him up for a bright career in the acting industry. Not much later, Will Smith became the go-to man for movie producers and directors who could guarantee both a blockbuster hit and also justice to the script with his amazing performance.

Pursuit of Happiness, Ali, Concussion, and several other award-worthy films decorate the actor’s filmography. However, it took him three decades to get to the Oscar stage and receive an award. And it is truly unfortunate to see such a beautiful build-up only for the climax to become a meme fest. Given his brilliant performances, fans of Mr. July have felt like the actor was snubbed at the Oscars countless times.

Will Smith, Jada Smith and their turbulent relationship with the Oscars: The saga continues

After the infamous Oscar slap gate, many have gone into deep thinking, wondering whether his three-decades-long praise-worthy acting career of Smith should be ignored. But the ring of the slap was not quite enough to ignore, and nor was the words that came after. Before Will Smith got his first Oscar, slapped Chris Rock, and got banned from the Oscars for ten years. Smith himself had boycotted the Academy award for two years.

Back in 2015, Will Smith hit it out of the park with his performance in Concussion. So when the 88th Academy Awards ceremony came around in 2016 with not a single nomination in Smith’s name, to say that fans were disappointed would be an understatement. Furthermore, all the 20 acting nominees for the award were white. And this was happening for the second time in a row.

Will Smith and his wife, Jada Pinkett Smith, both decided to boycott the Academy awards for their lack of diversity. “There’s a regressive slide toward separatism, towards racial and religious disharmony. And that’s not the Hollywood that I want to leave behind,” the Pursuit of Happiness actor told Robin Roberts.

Will may not be winning any awards soon, but he has won us over with his brilliant acting performances. Check out his transformation in Ali on Netflix.

Do you think he deserved the ten-year ban? Let us know in the comments below.