All of us keep in mind when Will Smith marched on stage in a match of rage on the 2022 Oscars and slapped the host, comic Chris Rock, for all of the world to see. He then promptly returned to his chair, however not earlier than demanding in an expletive-filled rant that Rock hold his spouse’s title out of his mouth. And, scene! Following the incident, Smith was banned from attending the awards present for ten years. Moreover, Smith preemptively resigned from the Academy of Movement Image Arts and Sciences. 4 months after the incident, Smith issued a public apology to Rock on social media, indicating that he had tried reaching Rock immediately however to no avail. 

However, simply three years after the incident, Smith is singing a brand new tune — actually. On March 28, 2025, Smith dropped a model new rap album titled “Based mostly on a True Story.” Proper out of the gate, within the confines of the primary observe, “Int. Barbershop – Day,” Smith took intention on the Rock controversy over again. “Will Smith is canceled,” the observe begins. Different strains from the observe embrace, “Who the f*** Will Smith assume he’s?” and “I ain’t by no means gonna forgive him for that s*** he did.” At one level, the track even alludes to the false rumor that he was pressured to provide again the Oscar he gained for his portrayal of Richard Williams in “King Richard.” However that is not all. It additionally hit on his marriage to spouse Jada Pinkett Smith and his warning to Rock immediately following the bodily altercation. “You want you had a Jada Pinkett subsequent to you […] You higher hold his spouse’s title out of your mouth.” So, uh, principally simply one other regurgitation of the occasions from the 2022 Oscars — solely this time in rap type. Booooorrriiinnggg.

Sadly, Will Smith’s new no-holds-barred album reeks of a determined try to fight his utter and full downfall following the Oscars debacle. It is no secret that Smith’s rap profession is not precisely his bread and butter. Previous to “Based mostly on a True Story,” Smith hadn’t launched an album since 2005. His 2025 album, comprised of 14 songs known as “episodes,” closely hearkens again to his “Recent Prince of Bel Air” heyday. Lately, Smith even teamed up together with his previous “Recent Prince” co-star Tatyana Ali on TikTok to recreate one in all their well-known dance scenes collectively — solely this time to the tune of Doechii’s track “Anxiousness” and a cameo by the Gen Z rapper. 

Nonetheless, one skilled is not so positive Smith’s new plan will work. “The nostalgia marketing campaign screams ‘I peaked a long time in the past,'” PR skilled Eric Schiffer advised Yahoo Leisure concerning the comeback try. “Recent Prince’ is iconic, however leaning on it now seems like Smith saying, ‘Keep in mind once I was likable?'” he added. Schiffer additionally identified that the album will not make folks forgive or overlook Smith’s notorious slap. 

It is also completely doable that Smith has determined to dredge up the Oscars slap for an additional motive: cash. As you could recall, only one yr after the incident, in March 2023, Chris Rock hit Smith the place it hurts with the discharge of his Netflix particular aptly titled “Selective Outrage.” Earlier than that, Rock made it crystal clear that he would solely discuss concerning the slap beneath one situation. “I’ve a complete present and I am not speaking about that till I receives a commission. Life is sweet,” he advised a crowd at his Fantasy Springs present in April 2022, per the Palm Springs Desert Solar. Maybe Smith now needs a bit of the Oscars assault pie, too.