Awards Shows

Oscars Slap Incident Tanks Will and Jada’s Charity

BAD BOY, INDEED

Donors who had previously supported The Will And Jada Smith Family Foundation gave much less following Will Smith’s incident with Chris Rock.

Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith at the 94th Academy Awards
Christopher Polk

Will Smith may not have faced consequences on site for slapping Chris Rock at the 2022 Oscars, but there’s been at least one repercussion, according to Variety. Will and Jada’s charity, The Will And Jada Smith Family Foundation, has received less donations following the incident, according to tax filings. The foundation has “invested millions of dollars and invaluable resources to accelerate the growth of initiatives that focus on deepening individual and collective empowerment,” according to its website, but tax records show that the org’s influx of cash dropped from $2,138,660 in 2021 to $365,870 in 2022. An investigation by Variety found that two of the organizations that WJSFF gave funds to, Rebecoming and World Rebirth Foundation, were unreachable and seemingly unattended to. WJSFF had also accrued bank overdraft fees of over $3,000. Sources told Variety that the Smith family hadn’t been as involved with the charity foundation anymore, citing lowering staff numbers as a sign. Currently, no one is on payroll at the organization. Will Smith has continued to bring in the big bucks though, with the new trailer for the next installment of the Bad Boys franchise dropping today.

Read it at Variety