May 24th, 2012
09:28 AM ET
Will Smith on the red carpet slap heard 'round the worldWill Smith may have gotten a little .... combative, shall we say, with a reporter on the red carpet last week after said journalist planted one on the "Men in Black III" actor. But it's not like he beat him up. Smith clarified as much on David Letterman's "Late Show" Tuesday night, explaining that he was in the midst of an interview in Moscow when the journalist asked for a hug. "He said, 'I'm your biggest fan, can I have a hug, please,'" Smith recalled. "So I leaned in to give this joker a hug, and he like, leaned in to kiss me. It's just awkward, Dave."
Awkward it was, as the world's now seen the video that shows Smith giving said reporter/loving fan what appears to be a light slap in the face.
On the red carpet that day, "They were like 'Oh, no, we're sorry, you know, it's just his schtick,'" the actor said, adding, "And that's why his a** got schtuck." Well, at least now he can laugh about it.
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Will's reaction was ridiculous. The reporter should have respected him. However, slapping someone, and then telling the world that the guy tried to kiss him on the mouth is crazy and a lie. It was a typical greeting that people in Eastern Europe use. This proves how ignorant Will really is. This is the guy who is lecturing the nation to vote for Obama and is all for raising taxes...I hope people are smart enough to not listen to Will. Especially after this incident.
Will was simply repulsed by some creepy gaggot coming onto him as most people would be. You know, that personal space and most people are not gay thing. You can feel sorry for the loveless little gag so desperate that he has to try and force himself on a normal person but think about what he would do if he got a defenceless child alone. He should probably go to a bar or park where people like him frequent.
the idiot had no right when he tried to kiss Will on the mouth. Will handled this perfectly.
It is Will's subconscious reflex it is obvious that Smith’s boundary had been invaded but pushing and shoving and physically striking the reporter? Needs more human skill when facing the public or may be wisdom?
It is NOT ok to invade someones personal physical space. And if it bothered him then it bothered him, he was not comfortable. A hug is plenty.
Do not apologize, Will. You did absolutely nothing wrong.
The man reacted instinctively. Good for him for not apologizing to the world.
Question, what if the reporter was a nice looking woman?
Would he be acting the same?
that's a ridiculous question "...if she were a woman" that has NOTHING to do with it. that idiot reporter invaded his space and rightfully got put in his place lol
I dig Will Smith. It's a shame some people overstep there boundaries. I cannot imagine what life must be like for a lot of these public figures. I can't wait to see MIB3
The Buffet plan is TRASH and a ploy of the rich to keep the poor down.
Obama is the Puppet of Goldman Sachs.
Conservatives all blow goats. Hey! See how easy it is to invent facts without any apparent connection to reality? No wonder it's so easy for Republicans and Fox News...
Will all of you please join me in "Report abuse"-ing this political zealot?
Really? can YOU find politics and post there?? ah?
find: Politics....then post there, or just go away!
Will Smith is highly talented and we are proud of him.
Kudos to Will. He should have clocked the moob properly–a good right cross from his Ali persona would have been about right.
I read on another site that this guy's thing it trying to be outrageous – it's part of his act. And he didn't just kiss him on both sides of his face – according to interviews with Will there was tounge involved. I say the joiker got what he deserved.
Apparently no one here has ever been out of the US. There are many countries that kissing on both sides of the face is customary. This just shows Will Smith,'s ignorance.
So now any man who doesn't want another man kissing him is "ignorant." You're obviously an Obama/Biden supporter.
I am sorry, in which country is giving someone the tongue out of the blue an accepted norm?
It wasn't a 'both cheek " greeting kiss, it was an attempt to plant a full face "tongue in the mouth" smooch. Will was charitable–he should have decked the i d o t.
No Joesph, it shows your ignroance. It is an acceptable practice in certain countries. But it is not here. You show respect for a act if it is a custome int he country the act occurs in. NOT if it occurs someplace else.
numb nuts
I think you are the ignorant one. Just because something is customary somewhere does not mean a visitor from elsewhere must observe that custom. The guy KNEW Will Smith was from a place where kissing in that fashion is not customary. Respect goes both ways and when the journalist lied about what he wanted and then tried to force a kiss on another man who might not be okay with that, he got exactly what he deserved.
FYI if a man tried to kiss me without first obtaining my permission, I'd b!tch slap him too.
Why the hell does Will Smith have to explain himself on this? He should have slugged the weirdo upside the head as hard as he could. Of course his "bigoted behavior" will probably cost him anymore invitations to the White House, but hey, that's the price for self-respect.
He's lucky he didn't get a broken nose.
Ye!and we all live in the White House.
I thought Will handled it with remarkable restraint. It's a good thing he didn't knock the guy out. He would have deserved it. It was a prank by a well-known prankster and Will was the butt-end of the joke.
More people should get slapped in this world.
As a gay man, I would probably have had the same reaction – this isn't about the who, it's about the inappropriateness of the journalist.
What if it had been Angelina Jolie and the journalist had tried to give her a kiss? A slap in that case most people would probably feel would be warranted if the kiss was unsolicited.
I actually laughed pretty hard when I saw this story!
When you are famous, people try to get in your spotlight. Sometimes they get famous as well. "Morganna the Kissing Bandit" comes to mind immediately. Sometimes they just get spotlight ooze all over them instead.
QS, with all respect, I believe your analogy is flawed. The better question is what if the reporter was a woman? Would Will Smith have slapped her for kissing him?
Will Smith, Tracy Morgan and Kirk Cameron could do a traveling road show together. I wonder what they'd call it?
"Will Smith, Tracy Morgan and Kirk Cameron could do a traveling road show together. I wonder what they'd call it?" Fresh Prince and two quares,
@JC: Don't quit your day job at Burger King - you are not funny.
He can laugh about it because he's a Black man with money and fame. Anyone else would have been legally charged.
"Anyone else would have been legally charged." Yeah, good luck with that. In front of cameras, pushing away some cat who tried to kiss him? And the charge would be . . . ?
The person asked permission and only moved toward him – no contact. That's not self defense.
Obama is going to make this country looking like escape from la
What day are you leaving...i want to personally say goodbye
This is directed to the political comments. In case you haven't noticed, this is an entertainment blog. If you want to rant about politics, go to a political blog. I'm sure this is one sad individual with no political knowledge trying to punk us. It is getting old. You are so inaccurate, it is disturbing. Pedal your opinion elsewhere! OBAMA 2012!
Honest, that is a picture of me, not the President. Boy, am I handsome. It's disturbing that you rednecks can't tell us apart.
As the liberal hypocrite pedals his own opinion. lol
"pedals his own opinion" Let me remind you both that you can't pedal a peddler, but a peddler can peddle pedals. Don't get me started about woodchucks, either.
Well ,while I appreicate your comment. By saying "Oboma 2012" did you just do the same thing? hmmmmm
Obama is the Antichrist.
Obama is the Antichrist. Obama is a Muslim. Obama is a porn star. Obama can dance like Fred Astaire. And yet you can never prove any of these things. Hint: You're stupid.
Obama is ruining our nation; he is a do nothing Puppet of kennedy Family.
"Obama is ruining our nation; he is a do nothing Puppet of kennedy Family." You forgot to mention that he is in league with Doctor Fu Manchu and they are going to breed giant scorpions to sap and impurify our precious bodily fluids.
Obama is ruining our nation
You can't tell Obama and Will Smith apart, can you
and you are a wacko. Get a life.
Ever heard of herpes 1 (cold sores)? I wouldn't let a stranger kiss me.
I wouldn't let a stranger kiss me . . . unless she was hot.
What Will did was a bit too much but at same time I can't blame him. He was asked for a hug and he was cool enough to hug this fellow who basically crossed his boundaries and kissed Will Smith. Will was obviously taken back and he just reacted. He could have easily smashed his fist into this fellow's face but he didn't. The fellow didn't seem to be harmed at all – most people tend to touch their cheek if they received a painful slap. The fellow was rude, period. Unlike Europe, kissing as a greeting isn't norm here.
Will was great on Prince of belair!
Warren Buffet contributes no Cash to any charity, we make him a hero, he is a Fat Toad and manipulator of
stocks.
Actually, he makes many charitable donations, especially to the Gates Foundation. If you would do a little research, you would see that Buffet plans to give away 99% of his wealth by the time he dies.
Will Smith gives Buckets of money to charity, he is a good man.
he is a great star. he made a mistake.
The fool got exactly what he deserved. Sure be outraged that he got slapped. Where's the outrage that he, quite obviously, tried to force an unwilling man into kissing him? I suppose that's ok?
It's "Show biz."
It's called assault. Public figures like Mr. Smith need to realize the rules also apply to them.
Are you trying to imply that forcing someone to kiss you isn't/shouldn't be considered assault?
I feel like it was an immediate response to a forced, uncomfortable situation. Could he have handled it better? Yes, sure, but I'm not upset with his reaction.
Hey genius – couldn't it be argued that the report assaulted him by trying to touch him without permission?
You can't touch someone without their permission – if you do, be prepared to be 'touched' back.
Hmmm So If I Kiss a person that I don't know without her consent how is that NOT assault?
"It's called assault"
Forcing a kiss on someone? You are correct, that's criminal assault.
So u think Forcing bodily fluids on someone is not assault! A gentle slap like that was the perfect defense against that type of disease potential assault and even stronger would have been justified. Where is ur brain?
"Public figures like Mr. Smith need to realize the rules also apply to them." Actually they don't; a 'public figure' cannot sue you for slander or libel unless it is really over the top stuff. We private citizens have a lot more rights than they do.
Not an assault. The reporter actually committed a battery against Mr. Smith by making contact beyond what was permitted, the hug. Mr. Smith's response may have been a battery, but I don't think any judge would convict.
Tell me how you would have made out with some random stranger who you were not at all atracted to.
Good for Will Smith! The creep deserved more.
The pervert knew exactly what he was doing. He got exactly what he deserved. If a man asked Jennifer Aniston for a hug and then proceeded to kiss her, he would get slapped or worse. It's just in this case they gay guy is trying to kiss the straight guy and should have had his as whooped. That's the message that should be sent to the GLBT community. Keep it in the barn and on your side of the fence.
"Keep it in the barn and on your side of the fence." And don't call when we know your wife is home, right? Seeya in the barn later.
The jerk got what he deserved. Besides, Will barely touched him. I'm sure if he was his "biggest fan", he probably will never wash his face again. Lol..
i said to the russkie "yo ivan slap u later"
That was my Russian friend Pieter Jakov.
LMAO! Can't wait to see the youtube posts r agging on this clip.
Well.... you know... I can see why he was mad and all, but I think the last slap was a bit much. Once he pushed him away, he should have just walked away. The last slap at the end was, though it doesn't look like it was all that hard, excessive.