The Painful Downfall of Will Smith

Summary

Will Smith's career and personal life have been marked by immense success and public turmoil. Once Hollywood's most bankable star, his fame was built on iconic roles in films like 'Independence Day' and 'Men in Black.' However, his career began to falter after the critical and financial failure of 'After Earth.' Smith's personal life, including his complicated marriage to Jada Pinkett Smith and his children's struggles, added to his public downfall. A controversial Oscars incident in 2022 further damaged his reputation, leading to a decade-long ban from the Academy and a significant hit to his public image.

Takeaways

• 😀 Will Smith was once a beloved and highly successful actor, known for roles in 'Independence Day,' 'Men In Black,' and 'Bad Boys,' and was considered one of the most bankable stars in Hollywood.
• 😀 Will Smith's family, including wife Jada and children Jaden and Willow, were regarded as a perfect, power couple, but their private lives became a subject of public scrutiny over time.
• 😀 Will took a break from acting in the late 2000s, focusing on family and his relationship with Jada after realizing he had developed an addiction to material success.
• 😀 Will's massive success continued into the 2010s, notably with 'Men In Black 3,' which grossed $654 million and earned him a $100 million paycheck, the second highest ever for a movie role.
• 😀 The 2013 film 'After Earth,' which starred Will and Jaden, was a huge failure both critically and financially, with a 12% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, and led to significant tension between Will and Jaden.
• 😀 Will’s marriage began to face challenges, culminating in a separation in 2016, while Jada became involved in a relationship with rapper August Alsina.
• 😀 Will's relationship with his father was strained due to past abuse, and his father's death in 2016 led to a period of emotional turmoil for Will.
• 😀 After the failure of 'After Earth,' Will’s career continued to falter, with films like 'Concussion,' 'Collateral Beauty,' and 'Gemini Man' not living up to his earlier successes.
• 😀 Will and Jada's marriage faced public embarrassment after Jada admitted to having an affair with August Alsina, which she later discussed in a Red Table Talk episode.
• 😀 The 2022 Oscars incident, where Will slapped Chris Rock after a joke about Jada’s alopecia, resulted in a significant blow to Will’s public image, a ban from Academy events, and a drop in social media followers.

Q & A

What was Will Smith's peak period in Hollywood?

Will Smith's peak period in Hollywood was during the 2000s when he starred in major blockbuster films like 'Men in Black 2', 'Bad Boys 2', 'I Am Legend', and 'Hancock'. His movies grossed over $3.3 billion worldwide during this time, and he received two Oscar nominations.

How did Will Smith's career take a turn after 2008?

After 2008, Will Smith took a break from acting to focus on family. He also became obsessed with material success and tried to distract himself by planning his wife Jada's 40th birthday party, which led to a strained relationship with her.

What was the impact of 'After Earth' on Will Smith's career?

'After Earth', released in 2013, was a major box office failure. The film received poor reviews and was labeled the worst-reviewed movie of Will Smith's career, leading to public criticism, especially of his son Jaden, who starred alongside him.

Why did Jaden Smith seek legal emancipation?

Jaden Smith sought legal emancipation from his parents at the age of 15 after the failure of 'After Earth'. He was reportedly frustrated by his father's decision to cast him in the film and the subsequent public backlash.

What happened between Will and Margot Robbie during the filming of 'Focus'?

During the filming of 'Focus' in 2015, rumors spread that Will Smith had an affair with co-star Margot Robbie after risque photos were leaked. However, both denied these allegations, and Robbie stated that they were just goofing around.

What was the relationship between Jada Smith and August Alsina?

In 2015, Jada Smith became close friends with August Alsina, a 22-year-old rapper. Their friendship eventually turned into a romantic affair, which became public in 2020 after August's interview, leading to widespread media attention.

How did Will and Jada's relationship evolve after their separation in 2016?

After their separation in 2016, Will and Jada worked on their marriage through therapy. While they took a break, Jada's relationship with August Alsina continued, but later they reconciled, and the relationship between Will and Jada seemed to recover.

What personal tragedy did Will Smith face in 2016?

In 2016, Will Smith's father, Willard Smith, passed away after a battle with cancer. Will had a complicated relationship with his father, which resurfaced painful memories of abuse from his childhood, adding to the emotional toll during this time.

How did the Oscars incident in 2022 affect Will Smith's career?

In 2022, Will Smith slapped Chris Rock at the Oscars after Rock made a joke about Jada's alopecia. This incident severely damaged Will Smith's public image, leading to him being banned from Academy events for ten years and losing significant social media followers.

What was the fallout from Will Smith's apology after the Oscars incident?

Will Smith issued a public apology to Chris Rock and others affected by his actions. However, his apology was seen as incomplete, as he did not explicitly say 'I'm sorry' to Chris Rock in his public statements. This left many questioning the sincerity of his remorse.