Joshua Goldman
Joshua Goldman
min read · June 23, 2025 · Entertainment

Will Smith's Rocky Road: From Oscars Slap to Musical Missteps

Will Smith has faced yet another setback as he desperately tries to get his career back on track in the wake of his notorious 2022 Oscars slap (pictured in his Pretty Girls music video)

The Fall of Hollywood Royalty: Will Smith's Career Woes Continue

The once-mighty Will Smith, the Fresh Prince himself, is struggling to get his career back on track after that infamous Oscars slap in 2022. The 56-year-old actor and rapper has seen his reputation take a hit, and now it seems like his music career is following suit.

Slapped and Sidelined

His four-decade body of work has been overshadowed since he made global headlines when he stormed the stage at the 94th Academy Awards and slapped host Chris Rock

Remember when Will won the Best Actor award for King Richard at the 94th Academy Awards? Yeah, that was supposed to be the highlight of his year. Instead, he made headlines for slapping host Chris Rock after a joke about his wife Jada Pinkett Smith. The incident left many wondering if this was the beginning of the end for Will's career.

Music Mishaps

Fast forward to 2023, and Will has attempted to revive his music career with new singles like Pretty Girls and First Love. Unfortunately, both tracks have been met with criticism, with fans calling them "cringeworthy" and begging him to stop releasing music altogether. The latest single, Pretty Girls, even sparked scrutiny over his bizarre marital arrangement with Jada Pinkett Smith.

His reported £28 million role in slavery epic Emancipation failed to make an impact at the box office in 2022, leaving his movie career somewhat in the wilderness

The Bizarre Marriage

In a shocking revelation, Jada revealed in 2023 that they had been separated for seven years, starting in 2016, but remained married. Confusion has surrounded their relationship ever since, with some claiming they're still together but living separate lives. The uncertainty surrounding their marriage only adds to the drama.

A Career in Crisis

He then focused on his music, announcing the release of a new album and a tour, but fans were left baffled at his choice of tour venues, which includes Wolverhampton's Civic Hall

Will's acting career is also struggling. With no projects lined up according to IMDB, it seems like he's stuck in a rut. His reported £28 million role in Emancipation failed to make an impact at the box office, leaving fans wondering if he'll ever regain his former glory.

The Ayahuasca Vision

But what about Will's infamous ayahuasca drug trip? He revealed on David Letterman's Netflix series My Next Guest Needs No Introduction that he had a terrifying vision of losing his career and fortune. The experience left him feeling like his life was being destroyed, with money flying away and his house disappearing.

His latest single, Pretty Girls, was branded 'corny' upon its release this month and has failed to make an appearance in the charts

Rebuilding His Career

Will seems to be taking the lessons from his ayahuasca trip to heart. He wants to "rebuild something beautiful and powerful" after the Oscars incident. He even compared it to kintsugi, the Japanese art of piecing smashed pottery back together. With a new album and tour on the horizon, Will is looking to turn over a new leaf.

Touring the UK and Europe

He was also compared to a sad 'dad on the karaoke with a drunk local woman', with some even unkindly remarking he's in his 'Elvis era', after performing another single in Miami

Get ready for some old-school Will Smith vibes as he embarks on his first-ever UK and European tour! The American rapper will be performing hits like Gettin' Jiggy Wit It and Miami at various venues across England, Wales, and Scotland. Don't miss out on this chance to see the Fresh Prince bring the house down!

The Tour Dates

August 24: Scarborough Open Air Theatre August 25: Cardiff's Bute Park August 27: Manchester's Victoria Warehouse August 28: London's Brixton Academy August 30: University of Wolverhampton at the Halls

The release of First Love also sparked fresh scrutiny over his bizarre marital arrangement with Jada Pinkett Smith (pictured in 2022)

Stay tuned for more updates on Will Smith's career and music!

Taking to X/Twitter to comment on the music, one account went as far to tweet: 'Dear Mr. Will Smith, This is absolute cringe worthy trash. Please don't release anymore music'

The recent pop flops may not be too much of a shock for Will, who previously revealed that he had hallucinated a vision of losing his career and fortune while on an ayahuasca drug trip

For now, Will be focusing on his first ever tour in the UK and Europe. The American rapper is travelling across the pond to play songs from his forthcoming album, Based On A True Story