Will Smith Just Turned the Oscars Slap Into a Diss Track — And It Hits Hard

Will Smith isn’t done talking — and this time, it’s through bars.

The Bad Boys star made headlines once again this week, seemingly referencing his infamous 2022 Oscars altercation with Chris Rock during a freestyle rap on Fire in the Booth, a U.K. platform known for its raw, improvised showcases.

“Expect Me on the Stage”

Dropping in for a surprise appearance with British DJ Charlie Sloth, Smith used the second verse of his freestyle to lay down some very pointed lyrics:

“I’m not the type of man to move in malicious ways / and I am too grown to play childish games / If you talking crazy out your face up on the stage and disrespect me on the stage, expect me on the stage.”

Then, without naming names — but without much room for doubt — he continued:

“Jokers dish it out, cry foul when it’s time to take it / City full of real ones, wasn’t raised to fake it.”

The message landed with the force of a slap — no pun needed.

Revisiting “The Slap” Heard ’Round the World

The moment Smith seems to be addressing took place at the 94th Academy Awards in March 2022. During a light segment, presenter Chris Rock cracked a joke at Jada Pinkett-Smith’s expense, referencing her shaved head:

“Jada, I love you. G.I. Jane 2 — can’t wait to see ya.”

What many didn’t realize was that Pinkett-Smith had been publicly living with alopecia, a medical condition that causes hair loss. Within seconds, Smith walked onstage and slapped Rock across the face in front of millions of stunned viewers. Then came the now-infamous line:

“Keep my wife’s name out your f---ing mouth!”

Rock tried to recover: “Will Smith just smacked the s--- out of me.” But the damage was done. What followed was a cascade of controversy, apologies, think pieces, and eventually, official action from the Academy.

Smith resigned from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences and was banned from attending any Oscars-related events for 10 years — though his work remains eligible for nomination.

Not the First Time He’s Addressed It

Smith’s freestyle isn’t the first time he’s alluded to the moment. On his March 2025 album, Based on a True Story, the actor-turned-rapper dropped multiple lyrical nods to the infamous night, including this line from the opening track:

“Him and Jada both crazy, girl, what you talkin’ bout? / You better keep his wife’s name out of your mouth.”

It’s a line that echoes the very words that ignited global headlines and temporarily derailed the Oscar winner’s career.

The Fallout & The Bigger Picture

Following the slap, Smith offered a public apology — though notably without naming Rock. Meanwhile, Rock addressed the incident during his stand-up routines, often using it as comedic material. Pinkett-Smith later suggested the outburst may have been indirectly linked to her 2016 Oscars boycott over the #OscarsSoWhite movement — an event Rock hosted that year.

Despite the long road back to public favor, Smith’s latest freestyle suggests he’s not hiding from the moment — instead, he’s owning it.

And if this track is any indication, he’s ready to rap about it, reframe it, and rewrite the ending — in his own words, his own way.