Will Smith's Coachella Cameo Might Be the Start of a Major Comeback Attempt

Kristyn Burtt
·2 min read
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Will Smith has laid fairly low since the slap heard around the world shocked Oscar viewers in 2022, but that is about to change because he has Bad Boys 4 headed to theaters on June 7. The 55-year-old actor will have to start making the press rounds in the late spring, so fans better get used to Smith popping up in the public eye in the next few months.

If anyone was looking for evidence, look no further than Smith’s cameo at Coachella on Sunday with J Balvin. This wasn’t a random appearance either because Smith came out in his Men in Black wardrobe — black suit, white shirt, and dark sunglasses — to perform the titular song from the 1997 movie. The audience screamed when they heard the first few recognizable notes as he yelled, “Coachella” at them. He was in great form without any background vocal support which isn’t an easy feat for any performer in a large outdoor venue.

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The feedback on social media was quite positive, so it appears the door might be warmly open for his comeback attempt. “The way you can actually hear Will Smith rap and it’s not 90% backing track like most of the Coachella clips I’ve seen. Old school rappers were built different,” praised one X account. Another fan chimed in, “Will Smith is one of the last true all around stars. A modern day matinee idol, who crosses racial/ethnic/socio-economic demographics. His impact over the last 30+ years cannot be understated.”

This is the reception Smith is looking for in 2024 after several awkward returns to the public eye over the last two years. Fans appear ready to forgive him as he steps back into the familiar role of Detective Mike Lowrey in Bad Boys 4 alongside Martin Lawrence’s  Marcus Burnett — a feel-good action-comedy that is perfect for summer viewing. However, there is probably one person who doesn’t want to hear about Smith’s comeback, and that’s Chris Rock.

In his March 2023 Netflix comedy special, Selective Outrage, Rock addressed the jaw-dropping situation to his audience. “Will Smith practices selective outrage because everybody knows what the f**k happened,” he said. “I didn’t have any entanglements. Will Smith’s wife was f**king her son’s friend, OK? Normally I would not talk about that s**t but for some reason, they put that on the internet.” Smith has reportedly reconciled with estranged wife Jada Pinkett Smith, who was in Coachella alongside son Jaden Smith supporting her husband. It sounds like Smith is taking steps in the right direction and the box office sales will be the ultimate test of whether his Hollywood comeback is complete.

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