In nearly a month, we’ll mark the one-year anniversary of the 94th Academy Awards, the place Will Smith infamously slapped Chris Rock on stage earlier than yelling expletives at him. The sudden improvement garnered an enormous wave of consideration, with many criticizing Smith’s actions. Nevertheless, the Oscar winner has additionally acquired assist from various folks and organizations. On that be aware, simply this weekend, Smith added one other skilled accolade to his already prolonged listing. The actor gained his first main awards win for the reason that slap controversy and, afterwards, he took to social media to reply.
Will Smith gained Excellent Actor in a Movement Image on the NAACP Picture Awards for his efficiency within the historic drama Emancipation. The competitors within the class was fierce, as Smith discovered himself up in opposition to Nope’s Daniel Kaluuya, Devotion’s Jonathan Majors, A Jazzman’s Blues’ Joshua Boone and Sterling Okay. Brown of Honk for Jesus. Save Your Soul. Smith wasn’t really on the ceremony, which was held on Saturday evening. So he addressed his win by way of an Instagram publish, through which he thanked his collaborators and the NAACP:
WOW!! NAACP!! I’m completely humbled by this!! I wish to share this with my whole #Emancipation household – @antoinefuqua, @charmainebingwa, Ben, Bob, Jon the entire crew at @westbrook and @appletvplus… I’m so pleased with the work we put into this movie. I wish to thank the NAACP for honoring our movie! @derricknaacp – you and your whole group – and the work you do all yr spherical – is actually essential, so to be acknowledged by y’all – it means rather a lot.
He additionally took a second to shout out Queen Latifah, who served because the host of this yr’s present. You may check out the A-lister’s publish in its entirety under:
It goes with out saying that it is a main second for Will Smith, contemplating what transpired practically a yr in the past. The slap positively nonetheless weighs on folks’s minds, however it will appear it hasn’t deterred no less than one group from giving Smith his props. It’s unclear as to why he missed out on the festivities, however there’s a good probability that he wasn’t capable of attend as a result of the truth that Unhealthy Boys 4 is now formally in manufacturing.
Emancipation, which was directed by Antoine Fuqua, was one thing of a ardour mission for the main man. The drama facilities on Peter, a runaway slave who should evade slave catchers and different obstacles as he journeys to Baton Rouge, Louisiana. The King Richard alum has been candid about how “deeply dehumanizing” the filming expertise was, mentioning how troublesome it was to be referred to as the n-word a number of occasions a day amongst different issues. Whereas doing press, the star was additionally candid about how he initially prevented doing slavery motion pictures and defined that Fuqua’s movie didn’t fall into sure tropes.
When it was launched close to the top of 2022, the movie acquired considerably combined opinions, although various critics did sing its praises. Will Smith’s work was additionally lauded, even amid the continued discussions over the slap. Although folks nonetheless discuss it, some seem to have forgiven the 54-year-old actor for what transpired. Smith himself has gotten to a spot the place he can poke enjoyable at himself for the slap and did so lately when he received in on a TikTok development.
Will Smith’s NAACP Picture Award win may bode properly for him shifting ahead, as it’d point out that sure committees will proceed to present him critical consideration for honors post-slap. (The Oscars doubtless gained’t, given the Academy banned Smith for a decade.) All in all, Smith appears to have discovered a way of normalcy after his tumultuous 2022, and this newest award gives him with some optimistic momentum on the prime of 2023.
Those that wish to watch the actor’s award-winning efficiency in Emancipation can stream the film utilizing an Apple TV+ subscription.
