In March 2022, Will Smith encountered the most notorious episode of his career at the Oscars, a night intended for his triumph but instead ended with his banishment from the Academy after slapping Chris Rock. Three years hence, Smith has harnessed the infamy of that encounter as inspiration for his latest album, titled "Based on a True Story." According to The Guardian, the album opens with the declarative phrase, "Will Smith is cancelled," before the actor embarks on a rap verse that includes the line, "I heard he won the Oscar but he had to give it back," echoing the aftermath of his controversial actions.
Smith had garnered the Best Actor Oscar in 2022 for his portrayal in "King Richard," but his triumph was overshadowed by his altercation with guest presenter Rock. Millions witnessed Smith take offense to a joke Rock made about his wife, Jada Pinkett Smith, leading the actor to storm the stage and slap Rock before continuing to shout from his seat. Though Smith was not mandated to surrender his Oscar, he was subsequently banned from attending any Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences events for a decade. Smith voluntarily resigned from the Academy, issuing an apology for disappointing his fans and peers.
The second track on the album, titled "You Lookin' for Me?", features the powerful lyrics: "Took a lot, I'm back on top / Y'all gon' have to get acclimated / Won't stop, my stuff still hot / Even though I won't get nominated." Meanwhile, Rock remained tight-lipped about the incident until the release of his Netflix stand-up special, "Selective Outrage," where he offered his perspective that Smith's reaction was less about his remarks and more about the public scrutiny under which the Smith marriage was placed.
