Will Smith is making a powerful return after what may have been the most bizarre and challenging three years of his career. For the first time, he found himself cast not as a hero, but as the villain. Now, at 56 and an Oscar winner, Smith is reclaiming his voice with the release of his first full-length album in two decades.
Titled Based on a True Story, the album confronts the fallout of the 2022 Oscars slap incident—when he infamously struck Chris Rock onstage and was subsequently banned from the Academy Awards. That moment sparked a media storm, and for the first time, the public turned on him. “This was the very first time he wasn’t the good guy,” said Omar Rambert, executive producer of the album. “The internet treated him like the villain. Now, he just wants to be vulnerable and honest and show other sides of himself.”
Before stepping into the recording studio, Smith sought guidance from some of hip-hop’s biggest voices. He reached out to Jay-Z, who encouraged him to stay true to his experience, saying, “Don’t fake your story. You got to say what’s true for you.” Kendrick Lamar gave him the blunt nudge he needed: “Just say that s—. You always been f—ing scared to say.” That raw authenticity became the heart of the new album. Smith has also announced a “redemption tour,” with scheduled performances across Morocco, Europe, and the UK. Meanwhile, speculation swirls that he may be in talks with Netflix for a potential comedy roast, although a spokesperson has declined to comment.
The album opens with a bold declaration: “Will Smith is canceled,” setting the tone for what’s to come. Another striking lyric directly references the Oscars moment, wrapping in his relationship with Jada Pinkett Smith: “Girl, what you talking about / you better keep his wife’s name out of your mouth.” This line recalls the outburst that accompanied the infamous slap, when Smith stormed the stage and told Rock to keep Jada’s name out of his “f—ing mouth.” Smith later issued an apology, explaining that his reaction was emotional, triggered by a joke about Jada’s hair loss caused by alopecia.
A Hollywood producer who’s worked with the couple revealed that Smith has long prioritized his mental well-being. Even before the incident, he often traveled with a therapist. “He never leaves without someone with him. That’s their full-time job—to be his therapist,” the source said. A month after the Oscars controversy, Smith went to India, where he focused on yoga and meditation. Rambert said that time of reflection inspired him to open up about his inner battles and shed the "Fresh Prince" persona that made him famous. For years, Smith avoided showing anything that might tarnish his joyful image. “He boxed himself in,” said Rambert. “He didn’t want to talk about sadness or pain, but he has that too. It’s a roller coaster.”
The beginning of his comeback unfolded last summer with the release of Bad Boys: Ride or Die, the fourth film in the franchise, which was a box office hit, grossing over $400 million worldwide. That success reinvigorated Smith. “The success of Bad Boys made him feel like, ‘Okay, people still love me. Now I can fully express myself,’” Rambert said. In a recent radio interview, Smith reflected on his solitude and self-discovery over the past few years. “I spent more time by myself in the past three years than ever in my life,” he said. “I got in touch with what I call the ‘despicable prisoners’—parts of myself I didn’t want people to see. Things like fear, anger, sadness, and confusion.”
Based on a True Story is his first musical project since 2005’s Lost and Found. He started teasing the album in 2023 and performed its gospel-infused single, You Can Make It, at the BET Awards that June. The performance featured the Sunday Service Choir and a blazing ring of fire. The lyrics preach resilience and hope: “The darker the hell you got to endure / the brighter the heaven you get to enjoy.” Ahead of the album’s launch, Smith returned to his hometown of Philadelphia. The city honored him by renaming the street outside his alma mater, Overbrook High School, to Will Smith Way. But the homecoming wasn’t all glitz—he also visited a local detention center to speak with at-risk youth. “If you can reach just one or two kids, that’s a win,” Rambert said.
Industry insiders believe Smith is finally regaining public goodwill. “People have given him some grace,” one Hollywood source told the Post. “I don’t see it negatively affecting him as much anymore. Everyone deserves a second chance. If he were truly a bad guy, more stories would’ve come out—it’d be harder to come back.”
Record producer Robert Fuzari, who worked with Smith on his 1999 hit Wild Wild West, recalled how Jada had significant influence even back then. “She wore the pants,” he said. “After we finished the record, Will told me, ‘Jada has to approve it.’ I thought he was joking—but he was serious.” When Jada finally heard the song, she sat stone-faced for the first minute and a half before suddenly getting up and dancing, much to everyone’s relief.
Once considered one of Hollywood’s most unshakable couples, Will and Jada’s relationship has come under intense scrutiny in recent years. In 2023, Jada revealed during an interview that they had chosen to live separate lives since 2016, despite maintaining the appearance of a united front. During that period, she had what she described as an “entanglement” with singer August Alsina, whom she met in 2015. Despite their unconventional arrangement, she insisted they remain committed to working through challenges. “I made a promise we wouldn’t get divorced. We’d work through whatever, and I haven’t broken that promise,” she said.
Rambert clarified that Will and Jada are still very much involved with one another. “They vacation together. They have date nights and family dinners. It’s just like a traditional family,” he explained. “The only difference is that every family member has their own demanding career.” With Jaden in Paris, Jada pursuing her own projects, and Will promoting his album, they’re all on different paths. But Rambert insists the adversity has brought them closer. “A lot of people might say, ‘You’re rich and famous, what’s the problem?’ But he’s still human. Feeling like the world is against you—especially when you’ve always been the good guy—isn’t easy.”
