Will Smith spotted in India in first public appearance since Oscars slap
Will Smith has been spotted in public for the first time since he slapped Chris Rock at the 94th Academy Awards.
Smith was seen landing at a private airport in Mumbai in India on April 23, welcomed by the paparazzi who were awaiting his arrival.
Local photographer Varinder Chawla shared a clip of the 53-year-old actor alighting his vehicle as he posed with some fans before entering the hotel premises. He can be seen wearing a plain white shirt.
Chawla also shared a photo of a cheerful Smith as he appears to talk with a man.
Local content creator Viral Bhayani also shared a video where Smith is seen waving and smiling at onlookers. A portion of the video showed him wearing a pair of gray shorts and white compression pants.
During the 2022 Oscars ceremony at the Dolby Theater in Los Angeles, Smith stormed the stage to slap Rock after the comedian joked about the hair of his wife Jada Pinkett Smith who has alopecia, a hair loss condition.
Rock said he can't wait to see Pinkett Smith in a would-be G.I. Jane 2. In the 1997 movie, lead actress Demi Moore portrayed a military woman with a shaved head.
Moments after the slap, Smith won Best Actor for King Richard, during which he delivered an emotional speech in a room already filled with much tension.
He was banned from attending the Oscars for the next 10 years following the incident. Prior to the decision, he also resigned as a board member of the Academy.
The Board didn't revoke Smith's best actor award for King Richard. As it stands, he's still eligible for future Oscar nominations or wins.