Bad Boys 4 Features ‘Oscars Slap’ Moment for Will Smith, but Is It Tasteless?

“The Slap Heard Around the World,” aka “Slapgate,” aka “The Oscars Slap” is referenced in this month’s action movie sequel Bad Boys: Ride or Die, with star Will Smithreceiving feigned comeuppance for striking comedian Chris Rock at the 94th Academy Awards back in 2022. The movie moment reportedly happens when Smith’s character, Mike Lowery, is having a panic attack…which results in him being slapped multiple times by Lawrence’s Marcus Burnett.

Seemingly referencing the infamous moment at the Oscars, Mike is mid-attack when Marcus decides the best way to bring him round is to strike him across the face repeatedly. The moment is played for laughs and will quickly conjure memories of Smith taking to the stage to hit Chris Rock for real after the comedian made a joke about Smith’s wife, Jada Pinkett Smith.

According to People, the Oscars Slap reference “drew audible reactions from crowds at advance screenings.” Critics have also made mention of the moment, with Variety’s Owen Gleiberman describing it as “a kind of pop exorcism,” and adding, “It’s ‘punishing’ Smith, making cruel fun of his transgression, and just maybe, in the process, allowing him to crawl out from under the image of it.”

Some, though, have taken issue with the reference, with The Daily Beast’s Nick Schager calling it a “tasteless nod to The Slap meant to rehab Smith’s image.”

Bad Boys: Ride or Die Has Been Met With Positive Reviews From Critics

Bad Boys: Ride or Die

3/5

Bad Boys: Ride or Die is the fourth installment in the action-comedy film series starring Will Smith and Martin Lawrence. The series centers on hard-boiled Miami detectives Mike Lowery and Marcus Burnett, who take on dangerous drug kingpins and thwart dangerous schemes as they attempt to stop the circulation of illicit drugs in their city. This time, Miami’s finest are the ones on the run.

Release Date

June 7, 2024

Writers

Chris Bremner

Studio(s)

Columbia Pictures , 2.0 Entertainment , Don Simpson Films , Jerry Bruckheimer Films , Westbrook Studios

Distributor(s)

Sony Pictures Releasing

Franchise(s)

Bad Boys

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Directed by Adil & Bilall and written by Chris Bremner, Bad Boys: Ride or Die sees Will Smith return as Detective Lieutenant Michael Eugene “Mike” Lowrey alongside Martin Lawrence as Detective Lieutenant Marcus Miles Burnett. The rest of the cast includes Vanessa Hudgens, Alexander Ludwig, Paola Núñez, Tasha Smith, John Salley, Eric Dane, DJ Khaled, Ioan Gruffudd, Jacob Scipio, and Joe Pantoliano. You can check out the official synopsis and the trailer for Bad Boys: Ride or Die below.

“This Summer, the world’s favorite Bad Boys are back with their iconic mix of edge-of-your seat action and outrageous comedy but this time with a twist: Miami’s finest are now on the run.”

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Bad Boys: Ride or Die’s Will Smith Says ‘It’s Nothing But Love’ from Fans

Smith is grateful to the supportive fans who showed up at the Bad Boys: Ride or Die premiere, despite the 2022 Oscars’ slap snafu.

While some reviews have criticized “The Slap” moment, the response to Bad Boys: Ride or Diehas been largely positive. MovieWeb’s own Julian Roman heaped praise on the return of Will Smith and Martin Lawrence, likening their comeback to “seeing cherished friends who haven’t lost a step.”

“Will Smith and Martin Lawrence continue to reign as kings of the buddy cop genre in another action-packed, laugh-out-loud installment of the Bad Boys franchise. Their fourth film together feels like seeing cherished friends who haven’t lost a step after nearly three decades. Bad Boys: Ride or Die slickly incorporates old and new characters into a reversal of fortune for our badass heroes.”