Was Will Smith slapping Chris Rock at the Oscars a boon for the actor?

Will Smith is one of Hollywood’s most prominent leading men, but his actions at the Oscars in 2022 became a turning point in his career. The actor had to suffer the consequences of slapping Chris Rock, who was the host that year.

A lot has been said about the infamous incident, with Smith acknowledging his mistake. However, his Bad Boys 4 co-star, John Salley, feels that the incident was probably a boon for Smith.

Was the feud a boon for Smith? (Source: Bad Boys)

Why does John Salley, the star of Bad Boys 4, feel the Oscar feud helped Will Smith?

Will Smith found himself at the heart of a massive controversy when he slapped Chris Rock at the 94th Academy Awards. The former was nominated for Best Actor for his role in King Richard, playing the father of tennis aces Serena Williams and Venus Williams, while the latter hosted the event.

The host had made a comment about Jada Pinkett Smith that the I Am Legend actor found completely unacceptable. He walked up to the stage and smacked Rock, stunning the audience at the Dolby Theatre. The consequences were severe for Smith, and the Academy banned him for 10 years. While he ended up picking up the golden statuette for his role, it was a bittersweet night for the actor.

Smith picked up the statuette for his role in King Richard (Source: King Richard)
While Smith might no longer be a part of the Academy, he has a lot more freedom now. At least, John Salley feels so. The two actors will team up in the upcoming movie, and the NBA star recently spoke up about how the Oscar feud has actually helped his co-star and friend. Salley mentioned that Smith got to travel a lot and that he felt rested afterward.

While the incident may have tarnished Smith’s image to some extent, and he was nearly dropped from the franchise, the actor has not stopped working. He will be seen in the fourth installment of the Bad Boys franchise soon.

What do we know about Bad Boys 4 so far?

The summer has several big films lined up and one of them is Bad Boys: Ride or Die. The franchise has amassed a loyal fanbase over the years, and the stakes are higher with each new installment.

Smith and Martin Lawrence will return to play the protagonists, Detective Lieutenant Mike Lowery and Detective Lieutenant Marcus Burnett. Salley will also return as Fletcher, the computer hacker. Vanessa Hudgens, Alexander Ludwig, and Paola Nuñez will also return.

Smith and Lawrence will return (Source: Bad Boys 4)
The plot will revolve around Burnett and Lowery’s boss’, played by Joe Pantoliano, death, and the detectives trying to get to the bottom of it. Unfortunately, they fall into a trap and have to be on the run. The trailer promises a lot more action and burning cars, as Burnett and Lowery try to clear their names.

Helmed by Adil El Arbi and Bilall Fallah, with the latter being at the reins of the previous film. The franchise has raked in $841 million at the global box office so far and will hope to go past the $1 billion mark with the latest installment. Bad Boys 4 will hit theaters on June 7th.