![Will You Be Seeing Emancipation?](https://cdn.magzter.com/1357654847/1669124533/articles/YnBnxASSF1670926684663/Will-Smith.jpg)
There they were: a collective of black culture royals-Rihanna and beau A$AP Rocky, Dave Chappelle, Tyler Perry, Kenya Barris-all of them (save RiRi and her puckered lips) all smiles as they served as the affirmative background of a Will Smith selfie. The occasion for that mirthful photo of elites was a private screening of Will's movie Emancipation. He took the pic and posted it back in October, and the intent was clear.
Damn, we were to think. Look who's all standing with him.
Emancipation had been one of several of Will's projects reported to be imperiled by his ineffable, indelible, unprecedented decision to saunter onto the stage of the Academy Awards and slap Chris Rock for joking about his wife, Jada. Prior to that infamous deed, Emancipation was anticipated as an Oscar contender and Will's performance in it hyped as yet another worthy of an Academy Award. (Recall he won Best Actor that night for King Richard.)
Post-slap, Will was, by and large, persona non grata in Hollywood, a censure that included the Academy banning him from attending the ceremony for ten years, as well as hella Hollywood stars condemning both his actions and him.
Will made some weak attempts at showing compunction, which Chris hasn't accepted-but did address in his stand-up. "Everybody is trying to be a fucking victim," he joked, according to CNN. "If everybody claims to be a victim, then nobody will hear the real victims. Even me getting smacked by Suge Smith...I went to work the next day. I got kids."
But oh what a difference eight months has made. For reconciliation or not, Apple decided to release the film this year after all. And it's no small coinkydink that its December 2 theatrical release date makes it eligible for Oscar consideration.
This story is from the Winter 2023 edition of Esquire US.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the Winter 2023 edition of Esquire US.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
![The (Shocking! Twisted! Brilliant!) Mind of Zoë Kravitz - Zoë Kravitz directorial debut Blink Twice](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/2243/1799393/e3HyYN4N51723805050063/crp_humorBlink-Twice-movie-Kravitzdirectorial-debut-filmaking-films-entertainment-woman-film-director-women-movies-movies-Zo-Kravitz-California-Kravitz-Bonet-Tatum-Lenny-Pussy-Island-comedy-Blink-Twice.jpg)
The (Shocking! Twisted! Brilliant!) Mind of Zoë Kravitz - Zoë Kravitz directorial debut Blink Twice
Kubrick. Tarantino. Peele... Kravitz? With the thirty-five-year-old's directorial debut the deeply unsettling psychological thriller Blink Twice she is redefining herself as a creative force. Over two days in New York, she lets us into her world.
![Vote or Die - I'm a Black man in Arizona participating in the most consequential election of my lifetime whether certain white men want me to or not.](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/2243/1799393/d9k_wNs7V1724327344820/crp_politics-elections-US-elections-Black-man-in-Arizona-2024-election-vote-or-die-Black-folks-vote-Trump-Kamala-US-president-Donald-Trump-Kamala-Harris-Joe-Biden-US-politics.jpg)
Vote or Die - I'm a Black man in Arizona participating in the most consequential election of my lifetime whether certain white men want me to or not.
You knew some vote-or-die, do-it-to-honor the-sacrifices-of-the-ancestors, you-can't-complain-if-youdon't-participate Black folks. But you also knew scores who didn't trouble themselves with participating at all. Into your 30s you felt somewhere between those philosophical poles, among those who, each election cycle, needed convincing that their vote mattered a good gotdamn.
![I AM FALLING APART](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/2243/1799393/nIJt_wojx1724329746662/I-AM-FALLING-APART.jpg)
I AM FALLING APART
At 48, I realized my professional dream of publishing a novel. Around that time, also gota staph infection, became diabetic, and started losing my vision. Will sce the end of my story?
![WITH VINTAGE, SWEAT THE SMALL STUFF](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/2243/1799393/SZyk67WBQ1724329688503/WITH-VINTAGE-SWEAT-THE-SMALL-STUFF.jpg)
WITH VINTAGE, SWEAT THE SMALL STUFF
The world is filled with fake throwbacks and questionable graphics. But real-deal, old-school sailing gear never disappoints.
![WATCH CLOSELY](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/2243/1799393/4ZVR9Ez6U1724329626306/WATCH-CLOSELY.jpg)
WATCH CLOSELY
The finer details of Parmigiani Fleurier’s latest masterpiece reveal why the maker has become such a cult favorite
![Giorgio Armani Is Never Done](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/2243/1799393/ZzcCaN77O1724329487156/GIORGIO-ARMANI-IS-NEVER-DONE.jpg)
Giorgio Armani Is Never Done
We sat down with the maestro to chat about, well...everything
![SOLAR POWER](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/2243/1799393/DhTDv-PwP1724329357014/SOLAR-POWER.jpg)
SOLAR POWER
What does the feeling of the sun shining on you smell like? Pharrell’s first fragrance for Louis Vuitton, LVERS, seeks to answer that question.
![REBIRTH OF AN ICON](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/2243/1799393/ozYytyodK1724329237849/REBIRTH-OF-AN-ICON.jpg)
REBIRTH OF AN ICON
The Cartier Trinity, a favorite of legends like Gary Cooper and Alain Delon, gets a bold new look
![Molto Rawdog!](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/2243/1799393/ktWew-EPi1724328731164/MOLTO-RAWDOG.jpg)
Molto Rawdog!
You've heard of rawdogging” a flight? How about an entire trip to Italy? I believe in it with the zeal of the convert.
![THE CYNIC THE TWO NATIONS](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/2243/1799393/9Zp7ELM2b1724327670261/THE-CYNIC-THE-TWO-NATIONS.jpg)
THE CYNIC THE TWO NATIONS
It's been twenty years since then. state senator Obama assured us there was not a liberal America and a conservative America. In that time, a new country has been building with fearful momentum. Can anything be donc to stop it?