Apple TV+ and Netflix recently pulled out of the bidding war on a Will Smith biopic after the actor slapped 2022 Oscars host Chris Rock during the event.
An anonymous source told The Sun that the two companies "quietly removed" their bids for the biopic and will use the funds to develop original ideas from new black actors instead. This is just one of the few backlashes from Smith's famous Oscars slap.
Will Smith is facing disciplinary charges set against him by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences despite his "immediate resignation" from the organization, per Sunday World. He may also lose the award he won during the event for his performance in Reinaldo Marcus Green's "King Richard" as a result of the upcoming proceedings.
Apple TV+ and Netflix's Withdrawal
In addition to Apple TV+ and Netflix backing out of Will Smith's biopic, The Sun's source said that the companies are currently planning to develop ideas with more family-friendly stars like Mike Epps and Michael B. Jordan.
"Working with Will Smith has become a risky business," the source said.
Apple and Netflix were among several companies competing in a bidding war to secure rights to a film about Will Smith's life based on his best-selling autobiography published in 2021.
It is not yet known if these other companies will follow suit. However, NBC mentioned that Sony also joined Netflix and Apple in withdrawing support for the controversial actor, with the company putting "Bad Boys 4" on hold due to the Oscars incident.
"Emancipation," an Apple TV+ action thriller film that stars Will Smith, has already been completed. However, Apple has yet to make a move regarding the film, per the New York Posts' Page Six.
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The Sun previously reported that an unknown source said that Will Smith's biopic could fetch the actor eight figures for its rights and that the actor signed his book deal with an accompanying biopic in mind.
The source previously admitted that while some feared Will Smith's brutal honesty in his autobiography could harm his reputation, it has done the opposite and helped him connect with his audience "like never before."
The Daily Mail's MailOnline reached out to Netflix and Apple for a comment on their withdrawal, but neither company have yet to give a statement.
The Oscars Slapping Incident
Will Smith's claim to infamy was well-documented during the 2022 Oscars when he slapped event host Chris Rock for joking about Jada Pinkett-Smith's condition.
Although he defended his actions during his Oscar acceptance speech for his role in "King Richard," he later apologized for them, saying that what he did was "unacceptable and inexcusable" in an Instagram post on April 4, per CNN.
"Jokes at my expense are a part of the job, but a joke about Jada's medical condition was too much for me to bear and I reacted emotionally," Smith said in his post. "I would like to publicly apologize to you, Chris. I was out of line and I was wrong. I am embarrassed and my actions were not indicative of the main I want to be."
The actor also resigned from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences for the altercation, adding that he has betrayed the trust of the organization and deprived his fellow nominees and winners of their opportunity to properly celebrate their work.
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