Will Smith’s criminal history resurfaced online, days after he assaulted comedian Chris Rock onstage during the 2022 Oscar Awards on Sunday.
According to MTO News, the Men In Black star’s criminal history includes a brutal attack on a Philadelphia man that left him nearly blind in 1989.
According to police, the young rapper was involved in a verbal dispute with record promoter William Hendricks that turned violent when Smith allegedly ordered his bodyguard to attack him.
The producer was left with a fracture of his left eye orbit and was hospitalized.
Smith was arrested and charged with aggravated assault, reckless endangerment, and criminal conspiracy.
Fortunately for the rapper, all charges were dropped after Smith paid the producer’s medical bills.
“Will had to spend a night in the cell at the West Philadelphia police station with other inmates waking him up all night long and asking for his autograph,” an insider tells the National Enquirer. “It was the worst night of his life. He wants to forget it ever happened.”
Smith refused to take responsibility in a 2005 interview, saying:
“It wasn’t my fault. That’s what they all say! But it wasn’t my fault. This is back in Philly. One of my buddies beat up this dude, and I was there. That’s my story and I’m sticking to it.”
Smith won his first Oscar Award for his role as Serena and Venus Williams’ father in King Richard on Sunday.
According to insiders, the Academy will ask the disgraced actor to return the golden statuette because “the punishment must fit the crime” and “bad behavior will not be rewarded by the Academy.”
