This week, Will Smith has been preparing for his upcoming film “Emancipation,” set to release on Apple TV+ in early December. However, his promotional activities go beyond just the movie. He’s also been on an “apology tour” addressing his well-known incident at the 2022 Oscars involving comedian Chris Rock.
Recently countless fans have been expressing their disapproval of the upcoming film and its lead actor Will Smith through social media platforms. People find it difficult to forgive the movie star. It seems that one mistake turns him into a target for cancel culture to attack.
Cancel Culture’s Preferences
Just like anyone else, celebrities also make mistakes and poor choices. However, the public tends to hold them on an incredibly high pedestal, leaving no room for errors. A single misstep can potentially end their careers with one negative tweet.
Cancel culture, in particular, has been especially harsh towards stars like Will Smith. During the promotion of his latest film, “Emancipation,” the actor has been issuing numerous apologies. In a recent interview with Kevin McCarthy from Fox 5 DC, Smith acknowledged that he understands if “fans” refuse to see his movie due to the infamous Oscar incident. Hollywood has turned its back on the actor, and now, fans are divided. Ironically, Smith’s actions pale in comparison to the crimes of his colleagues who have faced allegations of murder and sexual abuse. Yet, cancel culture has forgiven those individuals simply because they play favorites.
Can Will Smith Find Forgiveness?
Ultimately, the question arises: Does Will Smith stand a chance at being forgiven? Honestly, Smith has nothing to seek forgiveness for in the first place. The actor made a mistake, and Hollywood has blown the incident out of proportion. Furthermore, cancel culture has vigorously tried to tarnish his career simply because he reacted poorly to a bad joke. Thankfully, their attempts have been unsuccessful.
Let’s not forget that a few years ago, the media labeled Johnny Depp as a “wife beater.” However, he has managed to regain the respect of the public. Why is one offense forgiven while the other is not? Will Smith’s only offense thus far has been losing his cool at the 2022 Oscars.
In fact, Smith is widely regarded as one of the most talented and likable stars in Hollywood. He’s also one of the most successful and bankable actors in the entertainment industry. If social media chooses to forsake the actor for reaching his breaking point or simply having a bad day, perhaps the real problem lies within the internet itself.
