It was a sequence that took just seconds to unfold, but it seems Will Smith slapping Chris Rock at the Oscars is still having a ripple effect in the industry. An alleged insider says that Tom Cruise is refusing all forms of contact with Smith after the incident.
This comes from insider claims shared to Radar Online, and shared on Marca; the latter outlet notes it isn’t clear where Cruise and Smith stood before the Oscars slap, there was some connection there that Smith wanted to renew. Meanwhile, Cruise will hear none of it over any channel of communication – and not in the name of any project.
Tom Cruise is reportedly ghosting Will Smith because of the Oscars slap
“Will has approached Tom several times,” claims the alleged insider, “trying to reconnect and see if they can hang out and brainstorm on some projects together. Will has even offered to fly to London if that’s more convenient, but Tom isn’t biting and doesn’t even write him back, he’s not going to be stupid enough to put his neck on the line and be dragged down by association.”
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Part of this, the insider theorizes, is because reconnecting with colleagues will help build Smith’s career momentum back up. “A solid movie with Tom would guarantee Will’s comeback, or so he thinks,” notes the insider. Indeed, in the immediate aftermath of the Oscars, Smith’s movies were halted.
More of the same for both
Smith walked onto the stage when comedian Chris Rock made a joke about Jada Pinkett Smith’s hair, worn shaved because of her hair loss, and there Smith slapped Rock across the face. The move resulted in him being banned from the Oscars for 10 years, so some form of isolation will be the new norm for Smith for a while now. He can, though, still be nominated for awards and his performance in the sports drama King Richard earned Smith an Academy Award, BAFTA Award, Golden Globe Award, and Screen Actors Guild Award for Best Actor.
As for Cruise, the insider says, this ghosting is somewhat normal for him too, regardless of the person on the receiving end. The inside says Cruise simply “likes his reclusive lifestyle in the United Kingdom” and in contrast is naturally wary of Hollywood friendships.
Do you think we will see a fresh Will Smith return in earnest soon?
