At least, according to veteran Hollywood journalist Michael Levine, who says Smith’s actions in the near future have “deeply damaged” his career. “If you’re buying Will Smith stock right now, let ‘s agree. In the short term, not good,” said Levine, whose client list includes pop star Michael Jackson, former president Bill Clinton, musician Davie Bowie and comedian Dave Chappelle . Smith, 53, has starred in hits, including the Bad Boys and Men in Black franchises. His live-action and animated films have grossed more than $ 9 billion worldwide, according to box office researcher Comscore. But even as a recent Oscar winner, his attack on Rock raises questions about whether his actions will significantly affect his prospects. “This is not a bullet that hit his tiny left toe. I mean, this is close to the heart,” Levine said. Who the hell is going to raise his hand right now to say, ‘I know I want to make a Will Smith movie.’ During the Oscars last Sunday, Smith took the stage after Rock made a joke about the hair of Jada Pinkett Smith, Will Smith’s wife. Pinkett Smith, whose head is shaved, spoke publicly about the diagnosis of alopecia. Smith hit a surprised rock in the face, returned to his seat and shouted twice, shouting at Rock to “take my wife’s name out of your mouth.” CLOCKS Consequences of Will Smith’s slap in the Oscars:

Consequences of Will Smith’s slap in the Oscars

Actor Will Smith apologized to comedian Chris Rock for the Oscar night slap, calling his behavior “unacceptable and unjustified.” Reactions to Smith’s slap were deeply divided – some applauded him for defending his wife, while others condemned his actions. 2:02
Smith remained at the ceremony, nominated for an Academy Award for Best Actor for his portrayal of Richard Williams, the father of tennis stars Serena and Venus Williams in King Richard. After the victory, a tearful Smith apologized to the academy, but not Rock. The next day, however, Smith apologized more strongly on social media, this time including Rock. Meanwhile, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences met Wednesday to initiate disciplinary proceedings against Smith for violating the group’s standards of conduct. On Friday, Smith announced in a statement that he had resigned from the academy and “will accept any further consequences that the Board deems appropriate” and that his actions were “shocking, painful and unforgivable.”

The consequences are unlikely to be avoided

As for the future of his career, however, crisis journalist Howard Bragman said it was unlikely he could avoid the consequences. “Will Smith, who was Tom Hanks constant, had a moment at the Oscars that Kanye raised all sorts of questions about his judgment and career and will force him to be analyzed like a frog in a high school science project. “in the coming days and weeks,” Bragman told Rolling Stone magazine. In a podcast with The Ankler, a Hollywood industry newsletter, Bragman added that Smith’s career can now be defined as “before” and “after”. “It could really change things for him,” he said. Jeff Bock, a senior media analyst at Exhibitor Relations Co., a Los Angeles-based box office analytics firm, agreed that Smith should get a “Hollywood timeout.”

Gibson and Cruise disputes

This time-out could be similar to the career consequences of both Mel Gibson and Tom Cruise after their controversial actions. Gibson was blacklisted for a period after his anti-Semitic remarks to a police officer in 2006 and, a few years later, for his racist remarks to his then-girlfriend’s answering machine, which were later released to the public. In 2006, Paramount Pictures ended her relationship with Cruise after what was considered controversial behavior, including the infamous incident with Oprah Winfrey while jumping on the couch. Tom Cruise jumps on a couch on the Tonight Show in 2005, shortly after his infamous attack on Oprah Winfrey’s couch, declaring his love for Katie Holmes. That, along with comments about Scientology and psychiatric medication, put Cruz on his own “Hollywood timeout.” (Paul Drinkwater / NBC via Getty Images)
Cruz also drew negative attention to his condemnation of psychiatry and criticism of actress Brooke Shields for taking medication to treat her postpartum depression. He later took part in a lengthy interview with Today’s presenter Matt Lauer on the subject. “It will be up to [Smith’s] Public relations team for the reconstruction of the Will Smith brand. “And there is no doubt that this will happen in the coming months and the next two years,” Bock said. “I doubt any big studio or streamer will get the chance to sign Will Smith until these things happen, until this process starts,” he said.

“Take time to overcome this”

Bock said he believes the studios will avoid Smith, worrying about dealing with someone with possible anger issues, as well as avoiding a media attack that focuses specifically on the Oscar controversy. “It will take time to get over this. There is no doubt.” However, Bock said, some producer or studio will eventually get another chance for Smith. “You do not become a box office star and you just disappear,” he said. However, Scott Mendelson, a ticket analyst for Forbes magazine, said the incident could have done real damage to Smith’s value in non-franchise films, shattering “a carefully crafted 30-year-old image of an affordable, safe and ever-living movie star.” . charisma.” Smith, left, and actor Martin Lawrence pose for photographers during the Bad Boys For Life premiere in Paris on January 6, 2020. (Thibault Camus / The Associated Press)
As Mendelssohn notes in How Will Smith’s Assault On Chris Rock Could Hurt His Career, Smith was the biggest box office star on the planet from about 2002 to 2008. However, this box office power has diminished. Although Smith is still a star with the ability to bank, but mainly in previous successful franchises (Men in Black 3, Bad Boys For Life) or inherently commercial films such as Aladdin and Suicide Squad. wrote Mendelssohn. Other films in which he has starred did not do so well at the box office. “The ‘slap’ will cost Will Smith his prestige to a point where he will not be so useful to studio developers and end-of-year award-winning films,” Mendelssohn asks. “Smith may find it difficult to justify his cast on anything other than the sure IP and the sequel to previous glories.” Regarding the comparisons with Gibson and Cruz, Mendelssohn suggested that while they both continued to work, their careers were permanently stained. Gibson has mostly been relegated to video on demand movies. Cruz, meanwhile, is mostly banker only for the Mission Impossible sequels, he wrote. The new normal for Smith could be the point where “he gets to make movies, even big movies, but nothing resembles King Richard … never again,” Mendelssohn wrote. But, noted Bock, Smith has now won his Oscar. “He has nothing else to prove.”