2022 was a year filled with unforgettable moments, ranging from Johnny Depp’s court drama against Amber Heard to the popular Negroni ‘sbagliato’ trend. Among the most jaw-dropping incidents, though, was Will Smith slapping Chris Rock on stage during the Academy Awards.

The incident overshadowed the event and left Hollywood shocked. Now, Smith is addressing the incident through music with his first album in nearly two decades, Based on a True Story, offering a deeply personal reflection on his experiences, including the backlash from that infamous night.

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Oscars Slap Controversy

During the 94th Academy Awards in 2022, Smith walked onto the stage and slapped Rock while he was presenting the award for Best Documentary Feature. The incident was precipitated by Rock’s G.I. Jane (1997) comparison of Jada Pinkett Smith’s shaved head after she had earlier spoken of her alopecia condition. After hitting Rock, Smith went back to his seat and threw insults at him, but Rock brushed the incident aside to resume the presentation.

Later that evening, Smith took home the Oscar for Best Actor in King Richard (2021). During his acceptance speech, he apologized to the Academy and nominees but not to Rock. The following day, he made a public apology on social media. Smith eventually resigned from the Academy and was banned from attending Academy events, including the Oscars, for ten years.

Smith addresses the controversy on the track You Lookin’ For Me?, rapping, “Took a lot, I’m back on top, y’all gon’ have to get acclimated / Won’t stop, my s–t’s still hot even though I won’t get nominated / Personal life with my wife, mind your business, it’s complicated.”

The album also features interludes mimicking public debate of the event, capturing the divided sentiments about Smith’s actions. In one, a voice says, “I heard he won the Oscar but he had to return it / And you know they only made him do that s–t because he’s Black.” Another refers explicitly to the slap, saying, “Him and Jada both crazy, girl, what you talkin’ bout / You better keep his wife’s name out of your mouth.” These all point to how Smith was briefly “cancelled” in the public eye, with some still refusing to let the incident go.

Mixed Reactions from Netizens

Reactions to Smith’s album online were mostly negative. Some came to the defense of the Fresh Prince, but most believed that the album was “trying too hard.” One user on Reddit said, “I think that’s what keeps his music back. Songs like You Can Make It, Work of Art, Rave in the Wasteland really do sound like he’s interested in creating positive, inspirational music, but I’m not really interested in hearing that from him.”

Another critic said, “It seems like he just did it in an attempt to tidy up his reputation and illustrate him returning to his roots following everything going belly up for him after the slap controversy. All of it feels quite generic.”

Others excluded the album outright, with one user encapsulating their opinion bluntly: “Unlike Will Smith – this does not slap.”