Two years after Will Smith delivered the slap seen and heard around the world, the actor returned to the BET Awards on Sunday night and was greeted with a standing ovation.
Amid the spotlight, the 53-year-old Oscar and Grammy winner debuted a new gospel-inspired song, “You Can Make It.”
This relief performance featured Kirk Franklin, Chandler Moore and the Sunday Service Choir.
“I don’t know who needs to hear this right now, but no matter what’s going on in your life right now, I want to tell you this: You can get through this,” Smith said as a message of encouragement.
Gospel legend Kirk Franklin joined him on stage to provide vocals, and Smith told the crowd, “None of us get the easy way.”
On the set, Smith and his co-stars appeared to be on fire and threatened by flames that were later extinguished by rain.
At the end, Smith was greeted with cheers and a standing ovation from an attentive and awed audience.
The center stage performance marked Smith’s first awards appearance since the infamous incident in which he slapped comedian Chris Rock in the face after making a joke mocking his wife, Jada Pinkett Smith, Breitbart News reported.
It’s a continuation of the redemption tour Smith has been on since “Bad Boys: Ride or Die,” which was released June 7 and once again established the actor as a bankable movie star. NY Post Note.
The show, hosted by Taraji P. Henson for the fourth time, also featured performances by Megan Thee Stallion, Ice Spice, Ratt, Victoria Monette, Shaboozy, Tyra and Glorilla.
