Will Smith's Memoirs: From a Cowardly Child to an Iconic Star
Will Smith wrote in his personal memoirs about the things that no one knows, which were highly praised by many, especially by the famous TV presenter Oprah Winfrey as the "best" autobiography I have read. Co-authored by Mark Manson, author of The Art of No Care, the book quickly reached the top of the New York Times bestseller list.
Simply titled Will, the 400-page book contains self-reflections and fascinating moral mysteries about Smith's life. The reader is taken on a journey of how Smith faced his inner demon and worked hard to become the best. The transformation of a once-wimpy child into an iconic star in the worlds of music, film, and entertainment is detailed in this compelling memoir.
But the question remains: Will the public forgive Smith for his infamous Oscar slap?
First Chapter: as befits a frightened child
In the introduction to his memoirs, Smith shocked his fans by confessing, "I've always considered myself a coward." He then proceeded to narrate the fine details of his life with delicate sensitivity and brutal honesty, revealing how he developed the image of himself as a fearful boy who was too scared to defend his mother against his alcoholic father's aggression and violence.
Despite his attempts to compensate for his inaction by protecting his mother for the rest of her life, Smith never forgave himself for his cowardice. This experience left a visible scar on his soul and, most importantly, had a deep impact that indirectly dominated his decisions, self-perception, and appreciation of the value of family. His constant feelings of weakness, fear, inferiority, and incompetence compelled him to fortify himself to face the world, while simultaneously shielding the fragile child within him from everyone.
Second Chapter: a teenager who is not afraid to take risks
Smith had a golden opportunity between finishing high school and starting college. Despite the enormous risk, he did not fear the consequences and showed signs of excessive courage and a keen eye capable of sensing and striving for success.
Smith was an excellent student who loved science and mathematics. However, he gave up on his college plans to pursue a career as a hip-hop star in the pre-internet world. With only cassette tapes, house parties, and a relentless pursuit of door-to-door lyrics and songs, he went against his mother's wishes.
Smith's rap journey began when he was only 12 years old. In 1985, he joined his friend DJ Jazzy Jeff to work with him, resulting in their first single "Girls Ain't Nothing but Trouble."
Despite their young age, they quickly rose to fame, winning a Grammy Award in 1989 for the best performance of "Parents Just Don't Understand." Smith became the first rapper to win the award.
Their success continued with a series of achievements, culminating in three more Grammy Awards. Meanwhile, Smith's brilliance in television drama was evident through his work on the series "The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air," which ran for six seasons.
Third Chapter: I'll Be a Legend
Arnold Schwarzenegger once gave Smith a piece of advice on achieving fame in the mid-nineties, which aligns with Smith's belief that one's abilities are only measurable through experience. The advice was to think of oneself as a politician running for the biggest movie star in the world.
Growing up in a stressful and anxious environment for psychological and financial reasons, Smith felt insecure and decided to aim for nothing but first place always and forever. He wanted to be the best actor in Hollywood, the highest-paid and the most successful, not only among black stars but also white ones. Therefore, he assembled a dedicated team and took his career very seriously. He always tried to choose opportunities that would add to his career and elevate him to a position where he had no competition.
As a result, Smith's biography is filled with expressions indicating his insatiable appetite for more money and fame. He refused to settle for anything less than being successful as a songwriter, singer, actor, and producer. Any score less than a perfect mark was unacceptable to him.
As a man who always wanted to win, even when playing card games with his children, it affected how he treated his family. According to the book, Smith made all the decisions because he believed he had the most knowledge and insight into the idealistic intentions and long-term plans. Even if his family did not agree with him, they still had to comply because he believed he knew best.
Fourth Chapter: An Ambition That Doesn't Know the Impossible
At the verification level, Smith's fame as one of the most significant Hollywood stars is undeniable. He has achieved financial success and numerous titles, including being the fifth black actor to win the Academy Award for Best Actor. Additionally, he holds the record for the largest number of consecutive films whose earnings exceeded $100 million at the box office in the United States, averaging eight films.
It is worth noting that in 2012, he received the highest wage for a movie role ever, reaching $100 million for his film "Men in Black 3." He remained the highest-paid actor until 2022, when he was surpassed by Tom Cruise, who received $13 million and a percentage of profits for his latest film "Top Gun: Maverick," bringing his total wage to over $100 million.
Smith's wages for "King Richard" and "Bright" are also among the highest in cinema history. "Bright," in particular, surpassed the record for the most-watched Netflix movie in its first week upon its release and became the first major Hollywood movie to be watched by more than 100 million people worldwide.
Fifth Chapter : Does the Oscar slap make sense?
At a realistic level, it appears that Smith's imaginative and brilliant lifestyle was not ideal for his family, particularly his wife. She was drained from living under the custody of a man who tried to impose his vision and control everything, resulting in numerous problems between them. As a result, they sought marital counseling and separated for a time.
During this period, Smith had no choice but to hold himself accountable, review his artistic and personal journey, and analyze the impact of his fear and insecurity on his approach to life. He had to reflect on whether his actions were justified.
Considering everything mentioned in the autobiography and without condoning violence, it is possible to understand what led Smith to slap Chris Rock at the 2022 Oscars. He felt a deep need to protect his wife due to his heavy burden of guilt and shame for not protecting his mother when he was young. Despite his deep pain, he pretended to be perfect throughout his 30-year career. Can his audience and those who read his book forgive his great sin, or will he continue to pay for it until the end of his life?
