A look into Will Smith's upcoming roles as he returns to the public eye

Will Smith is back to work. More than five months after he slapped Chris Rock at the Oscars, the 53-year-old actor was spotted filming Disney+'s  in Alausi, Ecuador. Wearing a baseball cap and a yellow shirt, Smith delighted locals when they spotted him filming on La Nariz del Diablo, a historic rail in the country.In between shots for the second season of the National Geographic series, which Smith also narrates, the actor was seen blowing kisses to gathered fans.In July, four months after the now-infamous Oscars slap, Smith broke his silence in a deeply personal video message.

Willow Smith is speaking out against the pushback she received as a Black woman, after releasing her latest rock album,. In a new interview with, the 21-year-old musician shared her thoughts on the double standard.  “When I wanted to do a rock album, there were a lot of executives that were like, ‘Hmm…’ she tells the publication.

Will Smith slapping him at this year’s Oscars. The 57-year-old comedian reportedly made the quip during a stand-up show in Arizona last Sunday when he revealed he had turned down an offer to host next year’s Academy Awards. Rock was infamously slapped by Will Smith at this year’s Oscars after making a joke about his wife Jada Pinkett Smith while presenting an award.

Chris Rock, 57, has reportedly said he was asked by the Academy to host next year’s Oscars, but that he turned the opportunity down.The star discussed the apparent offer during his stand-up routine, five months after he was slapped across the face by Will Smith, 53, live on stage.Earlier this year, the King Richard actor shocked onlookers as he stormed across the stage to smack the comedian after he made a joke at the expense of his wife Jada Pinkett Smith, 50.While the star has since apologised, the story rocked the world of showbiz for weeks on end, with many celebrities and other famous faces offering their perspectives on the altercation.Chris told his fans at a Phoenix stand-up gig that he had since been asked to host the award show, but explained why he didn’t think it would be a good idea.The Everybody Hates Chris actor joked to his audience that returning to the award ceremony would be like returning to a crime scene, according to a report from Arizona Republic. The comedian went on to jibe that coming back to host the Hollywood awards show would be like asking Nicole Brown Simpson to "go back to the restaurant".This was in reference to the events that led to Nicole’s death and the infamous OJ Simpson trial that followed.The late mother-of-two ate at LA restaurant Mezzaluna Trattoria before she was murdered that evening in her Los Angeles home at the age of 35.The joke was made with a nod to the dramatic events surrounding the slap from the beloved Independence Day actor, which shook the world of Hollywood. Rock reportedly added that he had been offered to star in a Super Bowl commercial following the incident, but turned that down as well.Express.co.uk has contacted the Academy for comment.On March 27, viewers

Oscars ceremony.The comedian, 57, performed at a stand-up gig in Arizona’s Financial Theatre on Sunday (August 28) when he revealed that he declined the opportunity to host the awards show again.Chris made the alleged claim five months after being infamously slapped at this year’s event by Will Smith following a joke about his wife, Jada Pinkett Smith.READ MORE: Jada Pinkett Smith breaks silence on Chris Rock's Oscars swipe after Will Smith slapIn March, Will, 53, stormed the stage and smacked the comedian in the face in front of many star-studded guests and millions of viewers.According to the Arizona Republic, Chris told fans at his Phoenix stand-up gig of the Academy’s approach to him being a possible host.Chris, who previously hosted the Oscars in 2005 and 2016, allegedly said returning to the award ceremony would be like returning to a crime scene.He made light-heart of the incident and teased how making a return to one of the biggest nights in Hollywood would be like asking Nicole Brown Simpson “to go back to the restaurant,” referencing the events that led to her death and the subsequent OJ Simpson murder trial.The Grown Ups actor also informed that he was asked to do a Super Bowl commercial following the slap, which he also rejected.

Chris Rock said it was not a difficult decision to turn down hosting the Oscars next year. The comedian was famously slapped by Will Smith at this year’s ceremony after he made a joke about his wife, Jada Pinkett Smith’s bald head. Rock revealed during the Phoenix, Arizona, leg of his stand-up tour that the Academy had approached him to return to the show next year, Arizona Republic reported.

Chris Rock will not be returning to the Academy Awards as a host. During the comedian’s Sunday night show in Phoenix, Rock shared with the audience that he was asked to host next year’s Oscar Awards ceremony, which he denied, according to the Arizona Republic. Rock, 57, made a joke to the crowd and compared returning to the Academy Awards to Nicole Brown Simpson’s death.

That’s a hard pass. Chris Rock said he rejected an offer to host the 2023 Oscars during a Phoenix comedy show.

“Ratings, what’s good?”The preliminary Nielsen figures for the 2022 MTV Video Music Awards, its pre-show and two on-air replays are in — and both TV and cross-platform consumption ratings are up. According to the numbers, 3.9 million viewers tuned in to watch Sunday’s festivities across 12 Paramount Global cable channels and the broadcast network The CW — which is a 3% increase from 2021’s programming, which attracted 3.7 million viewers.Paramount says viewers watched 1.59 billion minutes of VMAs content across TV, streaming and social platforms.

Chris Rock to be emceeing the Oscars anytime soon. According to multiple eyewitness, Rock revealed during his Sunday night show in Phoenix, that he was asked to host next year's show, but refused.As many will remember, it was at the 2022 Academy Awards that Will Smith slapped Rock in the face after he made a joke about Jada Pinkett Smith before presenting the award for Best Documentary Feature. «Chris Rock said he was asked to host next year's Academy Awards at his Sunday night show at Arizona Financial Theatre, and that he refused the offer,» the eyewitness shared. «He also noted that he was offered the chance to do a Super Bowl commercial that he also declined.»Eyewitnesses also told ET that Rock compared hosting the Oscars to returning to the scene of a crime, referencing the murder trial of O.J.

Will Smith is fiercely protective of his family – as became clear after his appearance at the Oscars this year. The world was shocked after he slapped host Chris Rock, who made a joke about his wife Jada Pinkett-Smith, who suffers from alopecia. MORE: Will Smith reveals his heart 'shattered' when son Jaden made a shock requestHe subsequently issued an apology, and his family have all shown their support for him - with both Jada and his son Jaden speaking out.Just months before the incident, the award-winning actor released his memoir, Will, where he opened up about his family life - and some of the lessons he learnt through his children. One that stood out in particular was when his daughter Willow, 21, went to drastic measures to alter her own hair in a bid to stop touring.VIDEO: Will Smith prepares to take a dive into the deepest swimming pool on earthWillow gained global success following the release of her hit song Whip My Hair, and signed up for a month-long tour opening for Justin Bieber.MORE: Inside Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith's jaw-dropping £32.3million mansionMORE: Will Smith hailed a 'hero' as he shares video of terrifying encounter during family timeThe talented singer wasn't enjoying the tour and told her dad she wanted to stop at the end of the European leg of the trip.However, The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air star told his daughter that was not possible because she had upcoming dates in Australia.

Will Smith has spoken of the heartbreak he felt when his son Jaden asked to become an emancipated minor at the age of 15.MORE: Inside Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith's jaw-dropping £32.3million mansionThe actor, who starred alongside his son in the box office dud After Earth, revealed how he felt his son was "betrayed" by his father's actions after it was Will who had "coached" him through the film.WATCH: Will Smith prepares to take a dive in the deepest swimming pool on earth"After Earth was an abysmal box office and critical failure, and what was worse was that Jaden took the hit. Fans and the press were absolutely vicious; they said and printed things about Jaden that I refuse to repeat.

Months after Will Smith infamously slapped Chris Rock at the 2022 Academy Awards in March, the "Fresh Prince of Bel-Air" alum appears to be feeling more optimistic. "Will is feeling much more confident and much more positive and less depressed," a source tells "Entertainment Tonight." "He was in very low spirits prior to making his public apology," the source continued.

Vanessa Bryant being awarded $16 million to Shakira’s ex Gerard Pique locking lips with his new girlfriend- but it’s been just as exciting on TikTok. With the weekend around the corner, we have a round-up of the 10 best celebrity TikToks of the week.Madonna, who just celebrated her birthday, may officially be the winner of the “Teenage Dirtbag” trend.

Will Smith is in improved spirits after his impassioned video apology to Chris Rock, which he posted in July.A source tells ET, that, in the wake of his apology, «Will is feeling much more confident and much more positive and less depressed.»«He was in very low spirits prior to making his public apology,» the source continues. «He feels less ashamed now and more comfortable being out and about in public again because he has and continues to do the work that needs to be done for himself, his wife, his family, his friends, his colleagues, his fans, The Academy, Chris and Chris' family.»The source adds that Smith «knows he still has a lot of making up to to do and that it will all take time.» However, the 53-year-old actor is «putting in the work and that is putting him in a better state mentally.»«Will was so regretful of the situation and the situation he put his family in with all of the backlash, especially publicly. He wanted to acknowledge his wrongdoings and apologize and take accountability.

Vivica A. Fox has changed her perspective on the controversial Oscars slap, after sharing her thoughts about it in June, and criticizing Jada Pinkett Smith’s response to the incident, during an interview at The Wendy Williams Show.

Will Smith's infamous slap.Simon Cain, 49, has been performing on the circuit for 20 years and was performing at a pub in Bacup, Lancashire, when the shocking incident happened.The self-proclaimed "outrageous" comedian believed tensions started flaring when one of the punters started messing with the microphone as Cain was trying to set up.Read more: WWE legend The Undertaker looks unrecognisable in snap as he prepares for Cardiff showJust moments after the gig started, he said the assailant almost immediately began heckling and when he responded in kind - as would any comedian - the man ‘side-swiped’ him and broke his leg.Since the incident Mr Cain believes Will Smith slapping Chris Rock at the Oscars has set a dangerous precedent for comedians all over the globe.Cain, from Billingham, said the attack has not only left him mentally scarred, but also ‘skint’ as he’s currently unable to work. Speaking to ITV News, he said: "I've had better weeks.

Vivica A. Fox said she has not yet spoken with Jada Pinkett Smith after she was critical of the actress's response to husband Will Smith's infamous slap of Chris Rock at the Academy Awards.The 58-year-old actress in June said in an appearance on The Wendy Williams Show that Pinkett Smith's reaction on Red Table Talk to the incident rubbed her wrong.'I just wish we could have just a little more accountability and for it to not seem so self-righteous on Jada's part, and that's my feelings,' Fox said at the time.

Will Smith’s infamous Oscars slap.However, she apparently doesn’t harbor any ill feelings toward the Academy Award-winning actor.“I think they’re just really going through a season of healing right now,” Fox, 58, told People on Tuesday at the premiere of “The Great Wolf Pack: A Call to Adventure.”“Listen, I love Will Smith. He’s one of my favorite people on the planet.