Dear Will,
The first time I saw you was when I was a kid in school, watching Men in Black on TV, dubbed in Hindi, of course. And man, those Hindi versions were something else. I was absolutely hooked. That credit scene in Men in Black, the one where the universe or galaxy turns out to be just a marble, that blew my young mind. It planted a thought in me: maybe we humans are not the center of everything. Maybe there are things beyond us, beyond intelligence, beyond imagination, things we’ll never fully understand because they’re outside our reach.
That movie didn’t just entertain me. It opened my mind.
Years later, when I got into university, I stopped watching dubbed movies. I started watching original English versions with subtitles, and I made a list of movies to watch. I had a friend with fast internet, he downloaded the movies for me. On that list: Men in Black 1 and 2, The Pursuit of Happyness, I Am Legend, Hitch. I loved them. Some of your other films didn’t hit me the same way (sorry, Hancock was kind of a mess to me, as a huge Superman fan, it felt off). But I still respected your work. You felt different from most Hollywood actors, more real.
Then came a phase of confusion in my life, honestly, I think I’m still in it. I was desperate for some kind of guide, a mentor, a guru. That’s when I fell into the rabbit hole of motivational content: Les Brown, Tony Robbins, Eric Thomas, Simon Sinek. YouTube was full of videos combining speeches, movie scenes, interviews, and there you were, Will Smith, standing tall among them, speaking with heart and wisdom.
Your words, your presence, they gave me something I didn’t get from others. Watching The Pursuit of Happyness, hearing you talk about life, resilience, and purpose, it moved me. I even remember feeling jealous of Jaden and Willow. I thought, “Man, they’re so lucky to have a father like this, smart, successful, loving.” I was around 18 then, still figuring myself out. You became the kind of father figure I wished I had.
As time went on, I watched more Hollywood films. My favorite actors changed. I found Denzel Washington, a giant, and he became one of my favorites. Eventually, I stopped watching movies as obsessively. Life moved on.
Then came that night. The slap. The Oscars. Chris Rock. I saw it happen.
I wasn’t shocked, to be honest. I’ve never really liked stand-up comedy that relies on cheap shots, race, politics, religion, sex, insulting people just for laughs. So I didn’t think your reaction was completely unjustified. But I also knew something deeper was going on.
Will, I Think You’re in Pain, The Kind No One Sees
I read somewhere that people who share motivational quotes are often the ones who are struggling the most. That hit me. Because I’ve seen you do that, a lot. The way you speak in interviews, the way you quote from spiritual texts, it’s like you’re trying to convince yourself as much as the world.
It feels like you’re looking for healing. Maybe you started reading powerful books, maybe even the Bhagavad Gita, trying to find meaning, peace, something bigger to guide you. Maybe that’s why you turned to Eastern philosophy. And I respect that, deeply.
But man, that Red Table Talk episode? Your face said everything. You didn’t have to speak. The pain, the embarrassment, the heartbreak, it was all right there. Your legal wife, speaking casually about having an “entanglement” with a guy half her age, a guy your own son knew. That moment hurt to watch. I can’t even imagine how much it hurt to live.
It’s like… you were being humiliated as a man, as a husband, and as a father, in front of the world. And you sat there, trying to hold yourself together.
What Hollywood Has Done to Marriage
I grew up loving Hollywood movies. Still do. But I’ve started to see a pattern.
Modern movies and shows have made marriage look like a joke. Affairs are casual. Cheating is comedy. Polyamory is glamorized. Responsibility? Loyalty? Boring. Adulting is mocked. Values are replaced by vibes.
And now, with celebrities talking about open marriages and “situationships,” even real-life relationships feel like porn plotlines. It’s a slow erosion of meaning.
I don’t even care much for Indian actors anymore, they’re worse. Full of themselves, fake as hell. But you, Will, you always felt different. Genuine. Grounded. Not perfect, but real. That’s why I’m writing this. Not to lecture you, but to plead with you, please don’t let this all become a cautionary tale.
Don’t just let marriage become something people laugh about in memes.
Why You Slapped Chris Rock
I think I know why you did it.
You didn’t slap him because of the joke. You slapped him because you couldn’t slap yourself. You couldn’t fix the pain in your heart, so you exploded outward.
You’ve been sitting next to a woman who cheated on you, and instead of dealing with the real issue, you bottled it all up. That night, it boiled over. Chris Rock just happened to be the one standing in front of the volcano when it blew.
But here’s the truth: you were hurting yourself long before that moment. Keeping this broken marriage alive for your image, for money, for your kids, for your legacy, all of it has been eating you alive.
You’re holding on to a burning coal and expecting others to feel the pain. But Will, you’re the one getting burnt.
What You Should Do
Say sorry to Chris Rock. Not a PR apology. A real one. As a man. As someone who’s suffered but wants to heal.
Tell him the truth. Tell him you were broken, tired, lost. I think he’ll understand, maybe even forgive you. He seems like a decent man.
Then, start again. Choose good projects. Good scripts. Movies that remind us who Will Smith really is. Focus on your children, on your peace, on your own growth. Not the image. Not the clout. The real thing.
And close the chapter with Jada. With respect. But with finality. Not because marriage is a burden, but because pretending it’s still real is.
Your legacy won’t be destroyed by that slap. It will be destroyed if you keep faking your peace.
Don’t try to bounce back with a silly rap video or Instagram post. Do it as a man who has walked through fire and come out wiser.
Maybe I’m wrong about parts of your life. Maybe I’m missing the full picture. But if even a little of what I’ve said rings true, please, choose healing over hiding.
I still admire the Will Smith I saw in The Pursuit of Happyness. And even now, after all the noise and all the headlines, I still believe in that man.
Sincerely,
A fan from India, who still hopes you rise again.
