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Some interesting quotes in this article: https://www.news.com.au/entertainment/awards/oscars/will-smith-has-just-two-weeks-to-save-his-career-after-oscars/news-story/6406187e5477c3e6c5babca5dd2dc17d A source said: “Things are hanging in the balance. He will write an official letter to apologise, and effectively beg for their forgiveness. “He is also expected to hold a call with show bosses in the next 24 hours. April 18 is D-Day, though – he will find out if he still has an Oscar, and quite possibly, a career.” Question marks hang over Smith’s upcoming projects including Apple-funded slave escape drama Emancipation, with executives declining to comment on its planned release. He is also due to return to the Bad Boys franchise for a fourth instalment, though no start date has yet been set. The source explained: “Production executives and studio chiefs do not want to be seen picking a side too early.” Broadcaster and Sun columnist Piers Morgan, recently on Fox News, said: “Great to see Hollywood so incensed by Will Smith’s slap and preparing to severely punish him. “Just a reminder the same Hollywood gave paedophile fugitive Roman Polanski an Oscar and a standing ovation after his conviction, and continues to hire him and shower him with awards.” But sources believe The Academy is “leaning the other way”, adding: “They really feel they have to be seen to act. “It’s no wonder Will is seeking legal advice – he’s likely to need all the help he can get to avoid sanctions.”

Oscars producer Will Packer said Los Angeles police were ready to arrest Will Smith after Smith slapped Chris Rock on the Academy Awards stage. “They were saying, you know, this is battery, was a word they used in that moment,” Packer said in a clip released by ABC News Thursday night of an interview he gave to “Good Morning America.” “They said we will go get him. We are prepared. We’re prepared to get him right now. You can press charges, we can arrest him. They were laying out the options.” This should be an interesting interview: https://apnews.com/article/oscars-chris-rock-jada-pinkett-smith-entertainment-los-angeles-74be8b61cd1b7225dbfa2a252b21550a

Jim, I get everything you are saying and I think a lot of people feel the same way. I think it is worth getting the audiobook of Will though - the first 10 chapters are all about the formation and success of JJFP and a lot of stuff we never knew about - I think as a music fan you would really enjoy that section of the book at least. Behind the scenes of summertime - the making of And in this corner etc, the return with Men In Black.

Jim I think the best tracks he did over the last few years was the freestyle which was a few years old, the Will remix and Freak accident. I think one of the producers who worked with him didn't like the new stuff he was doing either and said he wanted more Big Willie Style era - would have loved to hear that track. I don't think we need to hear anything like Get Lit but I bet he has some good tracks he has just never released.

Good to see you still around man!

My latest thoughts on this - including a damning video showing Jada laughing after the incident: http://www.jazzyjefffreshprince.com/2022/03/31/is-will-smiths-movie-career-over-after-slapping-chris-rock-at-the-oscars/

The Academy just released a statement: The fact that Will was asked to leave and refused is very bad. I have a feeling he is going to be expelled from the Academy and this could signal the end of Will's movie career. How many people in Hollywood would want to work with him now?

I think I kind of agree with both @DefCEM and @JumpinJack AJ on this. One, I think it could be some excellent therapy for Will to go into the studio and get his thoughts out. I do also agree, and maybe you haven't been following it closely enough but this isn't an isolated incident from Will - he's lost his discipline - have a look at Will's fitness TV show where he basically quit, read the last couple of chapters of Will's book, I definitely think he is on some kind of spiral and that is what ended in the slap. So @Lerkot as an isolated incident maybe it isn't a big deal but if you step back and look at the big picture Will has gone from an extremely disciplined person to someone who looks like he is crying out for help and confused.

Jada using Will's mental breakdown for some views on her red table talk I find extremely unsavoury. Wasn't the entanglement episode of that enough humiliation for Will? And now she is going to do it again with more of her psycho-babble? Not happy about this at all. Will get away from that toxicity and get back to being yourself.

Interesting take on Will's apology here: https://www.news.com.au/entertainment/awards/oscars/will-smiths-oscars-apology-smacks-of-insincerity/news-story/19583b07a0208f557b2cf8724f69e094

Will has finally achieved his Oscar which he strived to get for 25 years. He's achieved all he wanted in movies. Is now the time for him to return to rap and put out another album? He would have a lot of things to say I'm sure.

I wish Will had done his apology as a video - it just reads like a PR statement cooked up by a publicist to me.

I I'm more with Def Cem on this. I will always be a JJFP fan but I really don't like justifying violence with love or protection. It just wasn't acceptable. I thought Chris Rock handled himself pretty unbelievably after the incident. You can hear my full thoughts on why I thought it happened on the podcast here:

Will Smith seems a little lost at the moment... at the end of Will's book he starts jumping out of helicoptors on dangerous bunjee jumps... starts doing halluigenic drugs and now he is assaulting people on live TV.. Will seems very lost right now... I hope he gets some help.

Loved this interview!

hey @maxfly & @dabrakes wanna do a podcast on episodes 4-6 this Sunday morning? I can setup the zoom if you are free.

Hey man - it may be a difference between US sales and overseas sales. Also the records shipped number VS units sold is differnt as well - Also when he refers to 60 million records sold that may include singles sales as well. From what I understand if you add up just the albums JJFP is about 6 million, then BWS would be 12 + willenium which I think is 5 and then adding in the others I think just album sales Will + JJFP I thought was about 30-32 million officially. So there is definitely a wide margin between what we know and what Will is talking about.

Awesome man - why don't we do one mid-season - I've now watched 3 episodes and I love the show - it's getting better and better!

Here’s my thoughts on the first 3 episodes:

Hey man - you need to join me for a podcast about this. I thought Jabari Banks was really well cast, and does a great job as Will. I’m definitely invested after one episode. It’s something completely different, but that’s why I like it.

So what do you think of Bel Air? The first 3 episodes dropped today.

Amazing Dave - enjoy Brand New Funk live and represent for the JJFP fans!

Hey man - great to hear from you! I think the "Will" book is phenomenal - I wish more people came back to the forum because there is so much in the book to discuss. He really goes in deep on becoming a battle rapper and the making of the Jazzy Jeff & Fresh Prince albums. You probably misses some music he dropped on his Instagram & YouTube. Will from Home was on Snapchat - there is an interview with Jeff on that after he almost died from Covid. There's still heaps of things going on - just less people on here to talk about it unfortunately. Hopefully the book brings some people back!

My thoughts on the first 9 chapters: https://open.spotify.com/episode/7lVMG8BZmzhqKyWGEaxQk3?si=aspejnXGTfa4wkuSrKNwNw&context=spotify%3Ashow%3A3D4hyMgdkz9aCpMIuQbUzs

Great idea. Here are a few things I’ve found. fascinating in the book. - Jeff having cancer as a teenager - I never knew this. - JL becoming their manager because he had a fax machine. - Will’s version of why they got rid of Ready Rock C - I loved the way Will described him becoming a battle rapper in Philly. - his first girlfriend cheating on him. You can hear the pain as he recounts that part of his life.