Will Smith wasn’t lying when he said Based on A True Story.
The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air alum just dropped his first LP in 20 years, and he is laying everything out in his own words. Indeed, there are some clear lyrical indicators to real moments in his life, including slapping Chris Rockat the 2022 Oscars, his complicated relationship with Jada PinkettSmith, and references to his kids Trey Smith—whom he shares with ex Sheree Zampino—as well as his and Jada’s kids Jaden Smith and Willow Smith.
In the first lyric delivered in the album’s opening track “Int. Barbershop-Day” featuring DJ Jazzy Jeff and B. Simone, the 56-year-old makes an immediate reference to the aftermath of slapgate.
“Will Smith is canceled,” he sings, before backtracking, “You can’t cancel no icon.”
Another repeated line of the track seems to allude further to Will being canceled, “I ain’t never gonna forgive him for that s–t he did.”
For context, Will slapped Chris during a monologue at the Oscars in 2022 after the comedian poked fun at Jada’s alopecia diagnosis. In a heated moment that dominated the news cycle for the following week, Will abruptly walked on to stage, slapped Chris, returned to his seat and then shouted across the Dolby Theatre, “Keep my wife’s name out of your f–king mouth!”
On the track, Will, DJ Jazzy Jeff and B. Simone play customers at a barbershop arguing about whether Will is still relevant following the scandal.
“Him and Jada both crazy, girl, what you talkin’ about?” one sings, before another adds, directly alluding to Will’s slap controversy, “You better keep his wife’s name outta your mouth.”
Later Jazzy Jeff also sings, “I heard he won the Oscar but had to give it back, and you know they only made him do that s–t because he’s Black.”
In the aftermath, Will did not actually have to return his Oscar, which he won for his portrayal of Serena Williams and Venus Williams’ father Richard Williams in King Richard. However, he was banned from all Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences events, including the Oscars, for 10 years following the scandal.
In a statement to E! News at the time, Will—who apologized publicly to Chris following the ceremony—said, “I accept and respect the Academy’s decision.”
However, he seemed to have cooled on the Academy barring him in another track “You Lookin’ For Me?” where he sings, “My s–t still hot even though I won’t get nominated.”
Along with the other singers featured on the Based on a True Story track, Will also alludes to rumors about his marriage as well as raising his kids Trey, 32, Jaden, 26, and Willow, 24.
“Who the f–k Will Smith think he is?” he continues. “And that boy damn crazy how he raising them kids.”
Later he repeats the first part of the line, but instead concludes, “He only still relevant because of his kids.”
The verses, of course, allude to Willow and Jaden’s status in pop culture and their feelings of exclusion from the Black community for their self expression, which Willow discussed during a 2020 episode of Red Table Talk.
“With the African American community, I kind of felt like me and Jaden were shunned a little bit,” Willow said during the episode, adding of what she felt from others, “‘We’re not gonna take pride in them because they’re too different. They’re too weird.’”
And, following Jada revealing she and Will had been “separated” for years in 2023, Will added of his continued defense of Jada in“Int. Barbershop-Day,” also singing, “I heard he down bad.”
Still, Will maintains an elusive response to where the couple stands on the following track, singing, “Personal life with my wife? Mind your business, it’s complicated.”
For a look back and Will and Jada’s romance, keep reading…
Throwback!
Stunner in a blue outfit (dress?)! Will and Jada are all smiles at the Devil in a Blue Dress premiere in 1995.
White hot
Have you ever seen anything more ’90s glam than this? The couple poses together in 1997, the year they got married.
Baby bump alert
Jada is styling more than just a trendy silver coat in this 1998 red carpet photo: she’s showing off her baby bump in a sleek black dress. Jaden Smith was born on July 8, 1998.
Suited up
Hats off to the couple who never cease to show up on a red carpet in style. Here they are together at the Kodak Theater in Hollywood, California in 2005.
Here comes the bride
Jada ignored the old superstition of never wearing to black to a wedding as she and Will head to Katie Holmes and Tom Cruise’s 2006 wedding in Rome, Italy.
Family affair
The kids are here in London, England with Will and Jada on the red carpet at The Karate Kid premiere in 2010.
Say cheese
Orange you glad to see this picture of Will and Jada together? The happy couple smiles in New York City in 2010.
Oh Canada
Willow, Jaden, Will, and Jada Pinkett Smith pose together in a family shot at the Toronto International Film Festival in 2012.
Glam in green
Jada dazzles in green as she and Will arrive at the 73rd Annual Golden Globe Awards at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in 2016.
Vacation mode
Everyone is all smiles for a family vacation after making a quick pit stop at the 2018 World Cup.
Soft smiles
Will posts an Instagram tribute to wife Jada, acknowledging that they’ve been together for “HALF OUR LIVES!”
Entanglement
In 2020, Will and Jada addressed Jada’s alleged affair with August Alsina.
Admitting she and August had an “entanglement” while she and Will were separated, she explained, “It was a relationship. I was in a lot of pain and I was very broken. In the process of that relationship I definitely realized you can’t find happiness outside of yourself. Luckily enough, you and I were also going through a process of healing in a much different manner.”
2022 Oscars
During the 2022 Academy Awards, Will slapped host Chris Rock over a joke the comedian made about Jada’s shaved head.
After the slap, Will resigned from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences and was banned from its events for 10 years. He also apologized to Chris—calling the slap “unacceptable” and noting “there is no part of me that thinks that was the right way to behave in that moment.”
Separation News
In Oct. 2023, Jada revealed she and Will have been separated for 7 years, including the six leading up to the 2022 Oscars.
“We’re still figuring it out,” Jada told People in a profile published Oct. 11. “We’ve been doing some really heavy-duty work together. We just got deep love for each other and we are going to figure out what that looks like for us.”
