Whoopi Goldberg Says Will Smith’s Career Will Come Back After Slap

Whoopi Goldberg predicts Will Smith’s career will come back to normal after he slapped Chris Rock at the 94th Academy Awards last month. Reports surfaced almost a week after the incident that Netflix was pumping the breaks on its Will Smith-starring action-thriller “Fast and Loose.” The project was moved to the streamer’s backburner in the days following Smith’s slap. Goldberg reacted to the news on the April 4 episode of “The View,” assuring viewers that Smith’s career will rebound.

“Some of Will Smith’s future projects are in question,” Goldberg said. “The question is does he have a path back? Yes, of course he does! He will be fine. He will be back. No worries.”

Goldberg’s “The View” co-host Ana Navarro argued in favor of Smith’s comeback, saying she did not agree with Netflix’s choice to drop its planned Smith-starring project.

“He’s had over 30 years of a career, where he’s had a very positive image, been a positive role model, he’s been very philanthropic, he’s done all sorts of things,” Navarro said. “None of us should be judged by our worst moment. We should be judged by our entire career. And yes, this is going to be with him the rest of his life. It’s going to be in his obituary. This is not going away. But should it define his life? Should it define his career? No, absolutely not. So I think Netflix and all those are making a mistake, and I hope they reconsider, because we should be able to separate his art from what he did.”

Smith announced April 1 that he was resigning from the Academy. He still faces “suspension, expulsion or other sanctions” from the Academy, which condemned his violent actions following the Oscars. The next Academy board meeting is scheduled for April 18.

CAN WILL SMITH’S CAREER RECOVER FROM SLAP? After the actor resigned from the academy and some of his future projects are reportedly in question following the #Oscars incident, #TheView co-hosts discuss his path forward. https://t.co/65KouKy9Jl pic.twitter.com/VQeIiud1JZ

— The View (@TheView) April 4, 2022