Will Smith's slap risk putting a blow to his career?

• Will Smith slapped Chris Rock on stage at the 2022 Oscars.

• A joke by the comedian about the close-cropped hair of Jada Pinkett Smith, wife of Will Smith, suffering from a disease causing significant hair loss, is at the origin of the incident.

• A few dozen minutes after the slap, Will Smith returned to the Oscars stage to receive the Best Actor award for his role in

  The Williams Method

  .

The 2022 Oscars will only leave Will Smith's slap in the face of Chris Rock in the collective memory.

And already, the consequences on the image of the interpreter of

are felt.

Under disciplinary proceedings after the attack on the comedian in the middle of the Oscars ceremony, Will Smith took the lead and announced Friday his resignation from the organization which awards the prestigious trophies.

"It's a clear indication that we [in Hollywood] are no longer the club of cool people", reacted Tuesday Jim Carrey on CBS Morning, who said he was sickened to see the standing ovation of the public at a time when Will Smith won the Best Actor Oscar for his role in

.

One of Hollywood's highest-grossing actors

If the reactions were slow on the evening of the incident, the criticisms have multiplied in recent days, to the point of wondering about the future of the actor's career.

For Michael Levine, historical agent in Hollywood, this gesture will "deeply harm" Will Smith.

“Who is going to raise their hand right now and say, 'I want to do a movie with Will Smith'?

“, asks this Saturday on CBC the one who had among his clients Michael Jackson, David Bowie and Dave Chappelle.

For over thirty years, Will Smith has been one of Hollywood's most profitable actors.

His films have grossed over $9 billion at the box office, and his net worth is estimated at at least $350 million, details

.

He is one of the few actors whose name alone can guarantee a $100 million box office.

But is he invulnerable?

No one is "too big to fail"

“I don’t think anyone is too big to fail,” agent Charles McDonald told the British newspaper, recalling that in recent years entertainment personalities once considered untouchable have been quickly dethroned, thanks in particular to the #metoo movement.

But all is not lost, he said.

"I think Will Smith can resurface - if he does the right thing at the right time."

"I can't imagine a world where directors refuse to work with Will Smith," a movie big name anonymously told

.

But he may have alienated some of his audience.”

The actor is expected in

, a thriller against a backdrop of slavery on Apple +.

The firm's reaction to the bitten apple will give a good indication of the damage the slap has had on Will Smith's career, analyzes Sharon Waxman, editor of

on the BBC website.

“If they decide to push it back, I think that will give an idea of ​​the fact that they don't want to be associated with Will Smith this year”, she analyzes.

For now, the star has played contrition to limit damage.

To see if this will be enough.

People

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Oscars 2022: How Will Smith's slap benefits Chris Rock and the Oscars

• Will Smith

• Oscars 2022

• Slap

• Career

• Hollywood