Three 6 Mafia’s Juicy J Reveals Will Smith's Reaction to Their Oscar Win

(L-R) Three 6 Mafia, DJ Paul, Juicy J, Project Pat, and Crunchy Black arrive to the 78th Annual Academy Awards at the Kodak Theatre on March 5, 2006 in Hollywood, California.

For those not familiar with the inner workings of Hollywood politics, awards season can be like swimming through shark-infested waters. Just when you think you’re safe, here comes a blood thirsty Great White you didn’t see. Rap group Three 6 Mafia found that out first hand in 2006, when they shocked the world by winning an Academy Award for Best Original Song for “It’s Hard out Here for a Pimp” from Hustle & Flow. For founding member Juicy J, once the elation of winning wore off, the awkward emotional roller coaster of Oscars night set in. Sure people are happy for you, but they can also be jealous.

During a recent appearance on the Allison Interviews podcast, the Memphis legend described a weird interaction with fellow rapper/movie star Will Smith. Apparently, the Fresh Prince might not have been as happy for Juicy and his friends as he appeared.

Read more

• MotoGP Champion Run Over In Barcelona GP Crash

• Bethesda Keeps Making The Same Game, For Better Or For Worse

• Tesla's Mega 98-Supercharger Location Runs In Part On A Diesel Generator: Report

• Nintendo Won't Release Any Zelda: Tears Of The Kingdom DLC

• Trump Can't Stop Posting About His Legal Problems. The Feds Say He Could Prejudice a Jury.

“And like I said, he could have been joking. He’s a comedian too,” Juicy said. “But I didn’t take it like that because I’m thinking people are gonna be like, ‘Congratulations.’ But he didn’t say that.”

With so many industry insiders in one place, Oscars night can be a little hectic. It can also involve a lot of butt kissing and insincere congratulations. If it’s not a world you spend a lot of time in, it can be hard to figure out who’s really happy for you and who’s just acting.

As he recalled the many unforgettable moments of that night, the Stay Trippy rapper revealed that he felt more celebrated by white stars than Black stars. John Travolta, Steven Spielberg and George Clooney were among those who offered “congratulations.” He even explained that the group got dirty looks from Black actors when they showed up at the Vanity Fair Oscars party.

“Nobody Black walked up to me and said, ‘Congratulations,’ that I can remember,” he said. “But a lot of that stuff was kinda weird that night.”

Looking back, the 78th Academy Awards were a particularly white affair, with barely any Black artists receiving nominations. It’s possible this could have led to some jealousy and resentment toward a group of “outsiders” winning with their first nom. As we chronicled during the 2023 awards season, it’s extremely difficult for Black creatives to receive recognition. Three 6 Mafia swooping in and winning with a catchy song from a movie about a pimp likely led to some very hard feelings.

More from The Root

• The 8 Unbreakable Rules of Self-Checkout Etiquette

• Airlines Are Racing To Find Fake Parts In Airbus And Boeing Engines

• Joe Alwyn’s Uncharacteristic Photo Dump Has Us Asking: Is He OK?

• If You’ve Got a New Car, It’s a Data Privacy Nightmare

• Ferry Crewmates Charged With Homicide After Pushing Tardy Passenger Into The Sea

Sign up for The Root's Newsletter. For the latest news, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Click here to read the full article.