The Dangerous Boys star not too long ago dropped by British DJ Charlie Sloth’s Fireplace within the Sales space — a showcase for rappers to point out off their lyrical creativity by dropping improvised freestyle raps — and he undoubtedly went there.

It got here when he hit the second verse, with Smith rapping, “I’m not the kind of man to maneuver in malicious methods / and I’m too grown to play infantile video games / For those who speaking loopy out your face up on the stage and disrespect me on the stage, count on me on the stage.”

He went on so as to add, “Jokers dish it out, cry foul when it’s time to take it / Metropolis stuffed with actual ones, wasn’t raised to pretend it.”

Whereas Smith did not particularly say Rock’s title or element what got here to be often known as “the slap” within the decidedly NSFW clip, it actually appears to be a reference to the second that a minimum of quickly derailed the main man’s profession, resulting in an apology, an Oscars ban, and him stepping again quickly.

It is also not the primary time Smith has alluded to the surprising occasion in latest months. His March 2025 album launch Primarily based on a True Story, additionally options traces that seem to reference it, together with the opening observe the place Smith raps, “Him and Jada each loopy, woman, what you talkin’ bout? / You higher preserve his spouse’s title out of your mouth.”

The triggering second got here in the course of the 2022 ceremony with Smith sitting near the entrance of the stage after his efficiency within the 2021 movie King Richard. Smith’s spouse, Jada Pinkett-Smith, was by his aspect as Rock was introducing the Finest Documentary class.

Throughout his introductory moments, Rock appeared to make a fast apart when he noticed Pinkett-Smith within the viewers. “Jada, I like you,” he mentioned. “G.I. Jane 2, cannot wait to see ya.”

G.I. Jane was a 1997 movie starring Demi Moore, along with her shaved head considered one of its most talked about parts on the time. Pinkett-Smith was confidently bald-headed on the 2022 Oscars, 4 years after she had opened up about residing with alopecia.

Following the joke, Smith acquired out of his seat and walked as much as the stage, the place he abruptly slapped Rock exhausting throughout the face earlier than returning to his seat and shouting repeatedly, “Hold my spouse’s title out your f–king mouth!”

“Will Smith simply smacked the s–t out of me,” Rock declared, leaving shocked followers unsure if this was some form of comedy bit. It wasn’t.

Within the weeks that adopted, Smith made a public apology for his actions with out mentioning Rock, whereas the standup comedian talked concerning the incident in his exhibits. Pinkett-Smith mentioned she felt there might be a connection to her 2016 boycott of the Oscars amid the #OscarsSoWhite controversy, when Rock was internet hosting the ceremony.

Finally, Smith resigned from the Academy and was hit with a 10-year ban, that means he can’t attend any Academy-related occasions, nearly or in real-life, for the length. His work can nonetheless be nominated.