Will Smith was all smiles as he landed in India where he was seen for the first time since the infamous Oscar’s slap.
Smith was pictured touching down in a private airport in Mumbai on Saturday where he was greeted by adoring fans who he took snaps with.
Smith is reportedly in India to meet spiritual leader Sadhguru, who Smith and his family met with back in 2020 in Los Angeles.
Dressed casually in a white t-shirt, dark grey shorts over white compression tights and a pair of Nike sneakers, Smith looked relaxed and happy after landing in the South Asian country.
As staff helped him unload his things from his vehicle nearby fans excitedly scream ‘Will, Will Smith!’
Smith then takes a couple of selfies with security and turned to the fans yelling his name, giving them a wave while flashing a smile before continuing to take a few more selfies and entering a building where he gives someone a hug.
This is the first time Smith has been spotted in public nearly a month after slapping master of ceremony and comedian Chris Rock on live TV and in front of his co-stars after he n made a joke about his wife Jada Pinkett Smith’s buzzcut.
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Smith was pictured touching down in a private airport in Mumbai where he was greeted by adoring fans who he took snaps with
A happy fan gives Smith the thumbs up as he arrives in Mumbai. As staff helped him unload his things from his vehicle nearby fans excitedly scream ‘Will, Will Smith!’
Dressed casually in a white t-shirt, dark grey shorts over white compression tights and a pair of Nike sneakers, Smith looked relaxed and happy after landing in India
Jada has been open in the past about her struggles with alopecia.
After the slap, Will returned to his seat and screamed ‘keep my wife’s name out of your f*****g mouth’ twice.
The slap divided Hollywood and the public, with some insisting he should be stripped of his Oscar and not be rewarded for violence, while others said he was standing up for his wife.
Several film projects that Smith had been involved in were put on hold since the controversy, including a sequel to the actor’s 2017 sci-fi action thriller ‘Bright’ directed by David Ayer, which was cancelled by Netflix, Bloomberg reported.
Smith’s National Geographic nature series, ‘Pole to Pole’ which follows the 53-year-old star to the North and South Poles, and was set to begin filming in three weeks, has been paused until fall 2022, the news outlet reported.
Additional projects Smith had lined up that have been getting smacked down, include a movie for Sony that has been delayed and another Netflix project for the ‘Fast and Loose’.
Netflix was in the midst of finding a new director for the film after David Leitch left the film ahead of the Academy Awards.
The Sony film, ‘Bad Boys 4,’ which had started pre-production before the awards ceremony, was also put on hold.
Amid mounting pressure, Will resigned from the Academy and issued an apology to Chris Rock, who has not publicly responded.
But two weeks after awards night, the Academy issued the actor with a ten-year ban from all of its events, while issuing a statement blasting his ‘unacceptable’ and ‘harmful’ behavior.
‘During our telecast, we did not adequately address the situation in the room. For this, we are sorry,’ the Academy’s statement read. ‘This was an opportunity for us to set an example for our guests, viewers and our Academy family around the world, and we fell short — unprepared for the unprecedented.
‘The Board has decided, for a period of 10 years from April 8, 2022, Mr. Smith shall not be permitted to attend any Academy events or programs, in person or virtually, including but not limited to the Academy Awards.
Smith is reportedly in India to meet spiritual leader Sadhguru, who Smith and his family met with back in 2020 in Los Angeles
Last month Smith slapped Chris Rock during the live Oscars broadcast last month after the comedian made a joke about her buzzcut
Jada Pinkett Smith mentioned the now infamous incident involving her husband Will Smith slapping Chris Rock at The Oscars on the first episode of Red Table Talk and though she did not elaborate much further she did promise that it will be addressed some time on the chat show in the future
The slap divided Hollywood and the public, with some insisting he should be stripped of his Oscar and not be rewarded for violence while others said dismissed it and mocked it on social media
‘We want to express our deep gratitude to Mr. Rock for maintaining his composure under extraordinary circumstances. We also want to thank our hosts, nominees, presenters and winners for their poise and grace during our telecast.’
After the decision was reached Smith released a statement saying: ‘I accept and respect the Academy’s decision.’
The actor had already resigned from the Academy when the ban was issued.
Meanwhile his Smith’s wife Jada has continued with her Red Table Talk where she referenced the now infamous slap incident, but did not elaborate much further she did promise that it will be addressed some time on the chat show in the future.
The 50-year-old actress released a written statement at the beginning of the first episode of season five her Facebook Watch series which released on Wednesday.
It read: ‘Considering all that has happened in the last few weeks, the Smith family has been focusing on deep healing.
‘Some of the discoveries around our healing will be shared at the table when the time calls. Until then…the table will continue offering itself to powerful, inspiring and healing testimonies like that of our incredibly impressive first guest.’
She previously shared an Instagram post that hinted at her approval of the incident.
‘This is a season for healing. And I’m here for it,’ she wrote.
She continued by saying: ‘Some of the discoveries around our healing will be shared at the table when the time calls’
It concluded: ‘Until then…the table will continue offering itself to powerful, inspiring and healing testimonies like that of our incredibly impressive first guest’
Jada has not directly addressed the slap, though she did share an Instagram post that hinted at her approval
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