Will Smith responds to critics of Oscars slap in music video: ‘You can’t cancel an icon!’

Will Smith recently released a music video where he addresses critics who claim he has been “canceled” following the infamous incident at the Oscars where he slapped Chris Rock. The video, titled “INT. BARBERSHOP – DAY,” is the opening song of Smith’s first album in 20 years. In the video, Smith portrays various characters engaged in a barbershop debate about his reputation.

One character in the video declares, “Will Smith is canceled,” to which Smith, playing another character, responds, “Oh, you can’t cancel no icon.” The dialogue and back-and-forth banter between Smith’s different characters highlight the ongoing controversy surrounding the actor.

Throughout the video, Smith brings up various aspects of his life and career. He references his recent Best Actor Oscar win and the subsequent backlash he faced for slapping Chris Rock. One of his characters mentions that Smith had to give back the Oscar, although in reality, Smith kept the award despite being banned from the awards show for 10 years.

In a more serious moment in the video, Smith, dressed as a man in Groucho glasses while reading his memoir, warns others to refrain from mentioning his wife’s name. The video concludes with Smith entering the barbershop scene without any costume, holding his Oscar statuette, symbolizing his unapologetic stance despite the controversies surrounding him.

The music video also features DJ Jazzy Jeff and B. Simone, long-time collaborators of Smith. The album, titled “Based on a True Story,” was released on Friday and addresses many of the issues Smith has faced in recent years, including the backlash from the Oscars incident.

One of the songs on the album, titled “You Lookin’ for Me?,” sees Smith confidently asserting that people will eventually come around to him again, emphasizing that his work is still remarkable even if he may not receive nominations for awards like the Oscars.

Despite the controversies, Smith has had significant success, such as the box office hit “Bad Boys: Ride or Die,” which grossed over $404 million worldwide. His return to the spotlight, including an appearance at this year’s Grammys, shows that Smith is ready to embrace his career and creativity once again.