Dave Chappelle has supported Will Smith’s comeback following his Oscars slap – less than two months after branding him ‘just as ugly as the rest of us’ in the wake of the incident.
The comedian, 49, proudly posed up with the Oscar-winning actor, 54, at an advance screening of his upcoming film Emancipation on Monday – despite slamming him over slapping Chris Rock, 57, at the 2021 ceremony.
Chappelle and Smith joined a loved-up Rihanna and A$AP Rocky, film star Tyler Perry and more to pose for the fun snap.
Smith is trying to revive his career as he returns with his first major project since he shocked Academy Awards viewers earlier this year when he slapped Rock on stage after he made an ill-advised joke about his wife Jada Pinkett Smith.
All is forgiven? Dave Chappelle (center) has supported Will Smith’s comeback following his Oscars slap – less than two months after branding him ‘just as ugly as the rest of us’ in the wake of the incident
Back in September, Rock and Chappelle poked fun at Smith’s slap on the opening night of their UK tour.
Dave said: ‘Will did the impression of a perfect person for 30 years, and he ripped his mask off and showed us he was as ugly as the rest of us.
‘Whatever the consequences are… I hope he doesn’t put his mask back on again, and lets his real face breathe. I see myself in both men.’
Chris previously declared: ‘The motherf****r hit me over a bulls**t joke, the nicest joke I ever told.’
Shock moment: Smith is trying to revive his career as he returns with his first major project since he shocked Academy Awards viewers earlier this year when he slapped Rock on stage
Friends again: The comedian, 49, proudly posed up with the Oscar-winning actor, 54, at an advance screening of his upcoming film Emancipation on Monday – despite slamming him over slapping Chris Rock, 57, at the 2021 ceremony
Independence Day star Smith’s on-stage slap sent shockwaves around the world, with the star later saying he was left incensed by a joke Rock made about his wife’s lack of hair, which she shaved off to cover up hair loss she had experienced.
Despite sweeping the Oscars up in controversy, Smith still won the award for Best Actor for starring as the father of Venus and Serena Williams in King Richard.
Also joining in the celebration was Black-ish creator Kenya Barris, along with music producer Corey Smyth and Will’s longtime friend Fawn Boardley, who has also served as a style director for him and his wife Jada Pinkett Smith, 51, who didn’t appear to have attended the screening.
The movie appeared to have sparked some deep conversations among the group, as a follow-up photo should Chappelle standing with his back to the screen as he spoke to the other members of the audience.
Smith’s latest film is a historical thriller directed by Antoine Fuqua, in which the Fresh Prince actor stars as an enslaved man named Peter who escapes from a Louisiana plantation and braves treacherous territory and slave hunters to make it up north to Union territory, where he is able to join the fight against the Confederacy.
The film was inspired by the life of a former slave immortalized in horrifying photos of his back, which was covered in spiderwebbing keloid scars from repeated whippings.
Oh dear: Back in September, Rock and Chappelle poked fun at Smith’s slap on the opening night of their UK tour. Dave said: ‘Will did the impression of a perfect person for 30 years, and he ripped his mask off and showed us he was as ugly as the rest of us’
Candid: Smith’s wife Jada Pinkett Smith had recently revealed that she was suffering alopecia and had shaved her head. Rock joked during his hosting set that she looked like ‘G.I. Jane’
History: Smith’s latest film is a historical thriller directed by Antoine Fuqua, in which the Fresh Prince actor stars as an enslaved man named Peter who escapes from a Louisiana plantation
Following the shocking slap, Variety originally reported that Apple planned to delay the film until 2023 to let the controversy die down.
However, it is now set for a December 2 release in theaters, followed by a streaming release on Apple TV+ on December 9.
The streaming service may have still given up its plans of having a hit for awards season, as the film may lose out on potential profits due to the short theatrical window.
Race for freedom: braves treacherous territory and slave hunters to make it up north to Union territory, where he is able to join the fight against the Confederacy
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