Will Smith makes triumphant red carpet return after Oscars slap

Will Smith, 54, landed himself a ten year ban from appearing at the Oscars after the slap – but that doesn’t prevent him from being nominated for one of the prestigious awards.

The former Fresh Prince of Bel Air star is still hoping to win big for his latest film, Emancipation, and was all smiles as he attended its Hollywood premiere clad in a suave burgundy suit.

He showed up at the Regency Village Theatre in LA with wife Jada, who donned a stunning white gown for the occasion, alongside their children Jaden and Willow, as well as Will’s eldest son, Trey, from a previous relationship.

His film, which is based on the true story of a runaway slave’s heroic journey to freedom via the swamps of Louisiana, sees him take the lead role.

Meanwhile, he has insisted that he “completely understands” if some fans opt out of watching due to his Oscars slap, but hopes their decision will not damage the work of his team.

Will Smith’s first major red carpet event since his Oscars mishap has gone down a storm

Will Smith was in high spirits during the premiere, at one point stopping to tenderly kiss his wife Jada on the head as the cameras flashed around them.

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Will Smith presented a united front with his family

Despite the stress of his AMPAS resignation and Oscars award show ban, Will Smith has apologised profusely for slapping Chris Rock, admitting that it broke his heart when his nine-year-old nephew Dom saw the coverage and innocently asked why he’d done it. He was in tears on the Daily Show with Trevor Noah, recalling the moment when he quizzed: “Why did you hit that man, Uncle Will?”

Will Smith’s wife Jada was the reason for the infamous slap

Will Smith had seen red after comedian Chris Rock made a “GI Jane” comment about his wife’s bald head. Desperate to protect his alopecia-suffering wife from embarrassment, he had got onto the stage to deliver the slap to a stunned Chris – but the family seem to have moved on from the incident now, with Jada now proudly rocking her baldness and looking sensational in a white gown.

Will Smith’s wife Jada Pinkett Smith outside the Regency Village Theatre

Will Smith’s wife prepared for the premiere with an outdoor snap showcasing the huge, flamboyant train on her dress. 

Will Smith’s Oscars slap shocked the world

Will Smith has since told Good Day DC that he “would absolutely respect” if fans chose not to watch his latest film as a reaction to the slap, and would “allow them their space not to be ready”, but that he hopes they come around. Meanwhile, director Antoine Fuqua insisted that there had never been any possibility that the movie’s release would be cancelled due to his actions, stating: “My conversation was always, ‘Isn’t [the portrayal onscreen of] 400 years of slavery, of brutality, more important than one bad moment?”

Will Smith back in his early days

This youthful snap of Will Smith was taken in 1996, the same year he starred in Independence Day. At the time it was the second highest grossing film in world history – and collectively, his movies have gone on to gross several billion pounds.

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