'Last night meant a lot': Will Smith gets emotional as he wins first award since 2022 Oscar controversy
CALABASAS, LOS ANGELES: Will Smith made his way back onto the stage to accept the Beacon Award at the African American Film Critics Association Awards (AAFCA) on Thursday, March 2. This is the first time Smith has given an acceptance speech while receiving the Beacon Award in person since the Oscars 2022 Chris Rock onstage debacle.
Smith and Antoine Fuqua, the film's director, were presented the award by 'Emancipation' co-star Charmaine Bingwa, and AAFCA cofounder Gil L Robertson. Smith addressed the audience to talk about the film's production after Fuqua gave a minute-long thanks to the AAFCA, Apple TV+, and the cast and crew.
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Smith delivers his first acceptance speech for 'Emancipation'
During his first in-person awards acceptance speech since the 2022 Oscars ceremony, Smith talked about his experience while shooting the iconic film 'Emancipation' and went on to thank people for working on it. The actor opened his statement by saying, "Emancipation was the most individual difficult film of my entire career. It’s really difficult to transport a modern mind to that time period. It’s difficult to imagine that, that level of inhumanity," as per The Hollywood Reporter.
Smith plays the role of Peter, a man who tries to escape slavery while using his intelligence to avoid slave poachers and endure alligator-infested Louisiana marshes in his search for freedom. Smith was inspired by a famous 1863 photograph of 'Whipped Peter's' scarred back.
He continued by talking about his experience acting in the AppleTV+ film as Peter, an enslaved man who creates his own freedom. Smith then recalled being spontaneously spat on by a WHITE co-star during the filming of a heated scene and how that experience changed his perception of the injustice of the slavery era.
Smith got emotional while revealing how he was spat on by a WHITE co-star while filming 'Emancipation.' He said, "It was the second day of shooting and 110 degrees. I was in a scene with one of the White actors, and we had our lines, and the actor decided to ad-lib. So, we’re doing the scene. I did my line. He did his line. And then he ad-libbed and spit in the middle of my chest. If I had pearls on, I definitely would’ve clutched them. I wanted to say, ‘Antoineeeeee,’ but I stopped, and I realized that Peter couldn’t have called the director."
“‘Emancipation’ was the individual most difficult film of my entire career.” Will Smith accepts the Beacon Award at the AAFCA awards ceremony. https://t.co/JI2rDIHsX8 pic.twitter.com/vR5oROfdgY
— Variety (@Variety) March 2, 2023
Smith also expressed gratitude to the AAFCA and everyone present for their efforts and took a moment to give thanks to Apple.
What happened between Chris Rock and Will Smith at 2022 Oscars?
The 2022 Oscars controversy sparked when Smith slapped Chris Rock after the comedian joked about Smith's wife, Jada Pinkett Smith. Chris said, "Jada, I love you, 'G.I. Jane II' — can’t wait to see it." Chris was reportedly commenting on Pinkett Smith's shaved head, a result of alopecia, a disorder that causes hair loss.
Smith stormed onto the stage, screaming at Chris twice, "Keep my wife’s name out of your f***ing mouth," and then hit Chris hard enough for the impact to be audible. Chris kept his word about Pinkett Smith's identity and referred to her as "Will Smith’s wife" and "his wife," for the rest of the event.
Yet, Chris ridiculed Pinkett Smith, 51, for having an infidelity with rapper August Alsina, in 2016, when Alsina was 23 and she was 44. Smith then reportedly admitted that at the time of the incident, he and his wife were having an open marriage.
In response to Smith's apology video, Chris said, during a tour stop, "Will did the impression of a perfect person for 30 years, and he ripped his mask off and showed us he was as ugly as the rest of us," as per Daily Mail.
Smith was permitted to stay for the entire event and even awarded the Best Actor award. He expressed apologies to the Academy and his other nominees during his address, and he joked about hoping they would allow him to return in the future. Later, the Academy declared that Smith would be prohibited from attending the event for the next ten years.
'Will man you are forever our hero'
Despite the Oscars incident, Smith's fans still accept him as a 'phenomenal' performer. Internet users praised Smith for his 'Emancipation' performance saying, "Incredible movie, phenomenal performance." Another user commented, "Will man you are forever our hero!! We got your back!! Know that!" One more user exclaimed, "Sooo Happy for You!!! And SO PROUD that our people have your back!!!" "Love this! The movie is a timeless work of art. Thank you sir," chimed in another user.
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