Will Smith’s Costar Aunjanue Ellis Weighs In On Chris Rock Oscar Slap

Will Smith changed the trajectory of his career in March 2022 when he slapped Chris Rock on stage at the 94th Academy Awards after the comedian made a joke about his wife, Jada Pinkett Smith. Since then, he’s worked to change his image and has multiple projects in the works. However, his “King Richard” costar, Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor, has reignited the conversation by defending the “Fresh Prince of Bel Air” alum.

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Ellis-Taylor appeared on The Daily Beast’s “Obsessed” podcast in August 2026. During the episode, the Oscar-nominated actress stated that she could understand why Will would want to storm the stage to provide a voice for Jada.

She stated, “I know that he wanted to protect his wife.” In supporting him, Ellis, who played his wife in “King Richard,” the movie he won the Oscar for the night of the 2022 Oscars, defended him, saying, “I stand by that. I stand with him for that.”

After that, Ellis-Taylor questioned what protections freedom of speech should offer. According to her, “I think that, you know, this idea that First Amendment rights should protect everybody? I don’t think it should necessarily protect assholes. I don’t. I don’t. I really don’t, especially if you’re causing harm.”

Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor Says The First Amendment Needs More Nuance

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Ellis-Taylor continued her thoughts on the debacle between Will and Chris over his joke about Jada. Notably, during the podcast, she noted that being from Mississippi, she’s accustomed to the First Amendment being used to justify the Confederate flag.

According to her, “I know blanket First Amendment valorization. I don’t buy into that. I just don’t. To say the least, it needs to be nuanced. You can’t use it as an excuse to harm someone.”

From there, the actress discussed her experience with Will on the set of “King Richard.” She recalled, “He just would not allow anybody to be treated poorly in his presence. He would just not allow it. And I cannot tell you how rare that is in this job.”

Ellis-Taylor added, “I will always have a great deal of affection and care for him because he acted that way.”

Will Smith Was Mentioned In Michael B. Jordan’s 2026 Oscar Speech

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Will is banned from the Oscars until 2032. However, despite not being in attendance, “Sinners” star Michael B. Jordan named him in his speech when he won the trophy for Best Actor for his role in the Ryan Coogler-directed film.

Regarding Smith’s reaction, an insider spoke to PEOPLE after the ceremony. They said, “Will was very happy to hear his name mentioned during Michael’s Oscar speech. Having someone so talented — who just won this incredible Oscar — mention him at that time was awesome for him.”

The insider claimed that Jordan’s name drop “made Will feel good on its own, but even more so to be included with the other top actors mentioned.” A different source told the outlet, “Will and Michael have huge respect for each other’s talent.”

Regarding the slap, the outlet was told that Will had “moved beyond” the situation. They added, “Life goes on, and so do good films with award-winning actors,” while noting that Will “has been building back” in his Hollywood career.  

Will Smith’s Next Film Is Supposed To Be ‘I Am Legend 2’

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Following the Oscar slap launched at Rock, who was hosting, Will has released two movies. The first is “Emancipation,” filmed before the slap and released in December 2022; the second is “Bad Boys: Ride or Die,” released in June 2024.

“Bad Boys” became a hit at the box office. According to Deadline, it opened with an impressive $104 million at the global box office. Following its success, a fifth installment of the movie is being discussed but has not been greenlit.

Now, his next film to be released is “I Am Legend 2,” which has attached director Steven Caple Jr., announced to direct in April 2026. However, filming has not begun.

Will Smith Will Also Star Alongside Jaafar Jackson In A Movie

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Deadline reported in May 2026 that Will was set to star in a new action flick for Amazon MGM, “Supermax.” The movie, which will be directed by David Gordon Green, will center on two FBI agents, Will and AnnaSophia Robb, with events taking place at the world’s most secure prison, Supermax.

In August, following the success of Lionsgate’s “Michael,” Jaafar Jackson was announced as one of the movie’s stars. However, details of his role are kept under wraps.