Joshua Goldman
Joshua Goldman
min read · June 29, 2025 · Entertainment

Will Smith Fires Back at Chris Rock with Controversial Lyric: Read the Freestyle

Will Smith (R, pictured in 2022) blasted Chris Rock (L) as nothing but a 'joker' in his 'Fire in the Booth' freestyle rap I Am the Illest, which he performed with Charlie Sloth three years after his violent assault against the comedian onstage the 94th Academy Awards

SHOCKING FEUD! Will Smith Unleashes Savage Freestyle Rap Against Chris Rock, Still Seething From 2022 Oscars Slap

In a jaw-dropping display of lyrical fury, Will Smith has dropped a scathing freestyle rap aimed directly at Chris Rock, three years after the infamous slap heard 'round the world at the 94th Academy Awards. The 56-year-old actor-rapper, still simmering with anger over the incident, took aim at his longtime nemesis in his latest track "Fire in the Booth," performed alongside Charlie Sloth.

The vitriolic lyrics, which have left fans stunned and divided, saw Smith unleash a barrage of insults and jabs at Rock, who had made a joke about Jada Pinkett Smith's alopecia at the Oscars. The 60-year-old comedian's wisecrack about Jada's bald head sparked a violent outburst from Smith, leaving many to wonder if he'd finally found a way to "take it like a man" – or if his anger was still simmering just below the surface.

The disgraced 56-year-old rapped on June 22: 'Now I'm not the type of man to move in malicious ways / and I am too grown to play childish games / but if you talking crazy out your face up on the stage and disrespect me on the stage'

THE SLAP HEARD 'ROUND THE WORLD

It all went down on March 27, 2022, when Rock made a joke about Jada's bald head during his Oscars monologue. Smith, seated in the front row with his wife, took exception to the joke and suddenly slapped Rock across the face. The incident sent shockwaves through the entertainment industry, with many calling out Smith for his aggressive behavior.

FREESTYLE FURY

Will (born Willard) added: 'Expect me on the stage'

Fast-forward three years, and Smith is still fuming about the incident. In "Fire in the Booth," he rapped: "Now I'm not the type of man to move in malicious ways / and I am too grown to play childish games / but if you talking crazy out your face up on the stage and disrespect me on the stage, expect me on the stage." Ouch!

The lyrics are a clear shot across Rock's bow, with Smith warning him to "keep my wife's name out of your f*ing mouth" – a nod to the original incident that sparked the feud. But what's most striking is how Smith glosses over Jada's involvement in the whole ordeal, choosing instead to focus on his own perceived slight.

A SEPARATION OF FACTS

He continued: 'Jokers dish it out, cry foul when it's time to take it / city full of real ones wasn't raised to fake it'

The drama surrounding the Oscars slap has only added fuel to the fire, with sources close to the couple revealing that Will and Jada have been living separate lives since their secret separation from 2016-2022. The power couple's relationship status remains unclear, but one thing is certain: they're still together – just not in the same physical space.

A CHANGING MAN

In a shocking display of introspection, Smith has acknowledged that his behavior was "inexcusable" and has since done "a lot of internal work" to address his issues. In an interview with BBC Radio 1Xtra, he confessed: "I took a big, strong, honest look at myself... For the first time in my career, [I was] having to deal with a level of disapproval that I never had to experience."

Smith slapped the 60-year-old Selective Outrage funnyman and warned him to 'keep my wife's name out of your f***ing mouth' after he delivered a G.I. Jane joke about Jada Pinkett Smith's bald head, which was a result of alopecia

The resulting music has been met with mixed reviews, with Pitchfork calling his latest album "Based on a True Story" "excruciatingly corny" and Rolling Stone describing it as "cringey, clunky, and dated." Despite the lukewarm reception, Smith remains committed to his craft, set to embark on a 26-date UK/European tour this summer.

A FUTURE OF FEUDS

As Smith gears up for his Based On A True Story UK/European Tour, fans are left wondering if Chris Rock will respond with a freestyle rap of his own. Only time will tell, but one thing is certain: the drama surrounding Will and Jada's tumultuous relationship shows no signs of abating anytime soon.

Curiously, the Tantrum rapper avoided mentioning or even referring to the 53-year-old Worth author (R, pictured in 2022) in his freestyle rap despite her being the very reason for his so-called 'chivalrous' outrage

For the latest on this developing story, stay tuned to thescholarlynote.com for updates on the ongoing feud between Will Smith and Chris Rock.

Aside from throwback snaps, Will and Jada haven't been physically pictured together since the Hollywood premiere of Bad Boys: Ride or Die way back in May 2024 (pictured)

On January 30, People reported that Smith and Pinkett - who were secretly separated from 2016-2022 - 'are still together' but 'living their own lives' in different homes

The hot-tempered Oscar winner seems internally divided on whether he's truly contrite or defiant over slapping Chris, but the subject has crept into his new songs as well as being slapped three times by his Bad Boys co-star Martin Lawrence (L) in their movie

Hours after the shameful 2022 altercation, Will neglected to apologize to Rock in his acceptance speech, and then he went to the Vanity Fair Oscar Party in Beverly Hills where he celebrated and sang along to his own songs

But the very next day, Smith resigned from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, which banned him from attending any of their events - in person or virtually - until 2032

On June 18, the West Philly native told BBC Radio 1Xtra that he's done a lot of 'internal work' and 'deep reflection' and 'took a big, strong, honest look at myself'

Smith marveled: 'For the first time in my career, [I was] having to deal with a level of disapproval that I never had to experience. The addiction to the approval of others that I had to dissolve, it was brutal'

He added: 'But then all of a sudden, all these new thoughts, new energies, new creativity came through like a geyser and it started showing up as music'

Unfortunately for the four-time Grammy winner, his first album in 20 years - Based On A True Story - failed to chart in any major territory with Pitchfork blasting it as 'excruciatingly corny' and Rolling Stone calling it 'cringey, clunky, and dated'

Will is next scheduled to bring his 26-date Based On A True Story UK/European Tour to Spanish music festival Granca Live Fest in Las Palmas this Thursday (pictured last Thursday)