Will Smith promoted his film King Richard on BBC’s The One Show by videolink on Wednesday night.
His ‘unrecognisable appearance’ and his smooth features left viewers baffled. Many took to Twitter to question his actions.
The 53-year-old became famous on TV’s The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air. In 1990, the show’s first season, The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, featured him in a three-piece suit that included a purple shirt and a pattern tie.
“What’s he doing to his face?” Will Smith (53), baffled viewers with his unrecognisable appearance on The One Show Wednesday night, via video link, to promote King Richard.
Sharp: Will rose to fame in TV’s The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, back in 1990. He wore a three-piece suit with a purple shirt, and a patterned tie during the interview. Photo taken in December 2017.
“What is the deal with Will Smith?’ Online, one viewer asked, “What’s up with Will Smith’s face?” Another replied, “Will Smith doesn’t look like Will Smith.”
One thought he was the same person as he was when he first appeared on NBC TV’s The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air. While another said he appears ‘robotic-like’ on The One Show.
Will appeared on the BBC show to discuss his latest film King Richard, which is based on the life of Richard Williams, played by Will, who helped his daughters, Serena and Venus Williams, navigate their early lives as professional athletes.
Speaking to hosts Zoe Ball and Jermaine Jenas, Will revealed how at first, Serena and Venus, did not give the film their blessing.
Young: Will displayed his youthful features on the program
Baffled viewers: ‘What’s up with Will Smith’s face??’ One viewer asked the question online and another said that Will Smith didn’t look like Will Smith.
‘Venus and Serena when the idea came up they were a little hesitant, and they said they would executive produce the film but would wait until they saw the movie until they decided to put their names on it,’ he said.
“But, they were so honored that they agreed to put there names on the movie. When you create a movie such as this, there is really only one audience. It’s the people that you are portraying.
“And when the actors walked out and said they would put their names on the film, that was one of my proudest moments.”
Youthful: One said he looks exactly the same as when he appeared on NBC’s The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air. Another described him as ‘robotic.’ Will appears in an early 1990s promotional photo for The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air.
Will, who also made an appearance on Lorraine’s TV program on Thursday morning said that he was unsure if Venus and Serena’s father have seen the movie.
“He doesn’t feel very well.” He said that he doesn’t remember if the film was shown to him, although Serena told him it would not be normal for him to see it.
In 2019, Reinaldo Marcus-directed development began, and production started the next year.
Will said this week that it was an honour to present bonuses to cast members, after filming had ended.
The star explained his decision to pay his co-stars out of his own pocket, telling Entertainment Tonight how COVID-19 factored in to the equation.
Uncertain: Will, who also made an appearance on Lorraine Thursday morning, said that he was unsure if Venus and Serena’s father have seen the film. He’s not well. He said that he doesn’t know the answer to this question, although Serena told him it wouldn’t be unusual for him not to have seen it.
He said, “All that I can do is do my part.” It was the COVID shutdowns that made it so people stayed with us.
“It was much harder than anyone thought it would be.” He said that he felt it was fair.
It was previously revealed by The Hollywood Reporter that the performer received a payment of nearly $40 million (£29.6m) for his work on the feature.
Biopic: King Richard was based on Richard Williams’ life, which Will portrays as a father to his daughters Serena Williams and Venus Williams. Will (right), Saniyya Sydney (left), and Demi Singleton are pictured center.
Cast member Layla Crawford also told The Hollywood Reporter that Will gave numerous gifts to the cast of the feature during the filming process.
‘He would give us Polaroid cameras every day and various treats. He is so generous and kind. Also, he gave us iPhone 12 Pro Max gift boxes. They were ripped open by everyone and they all started to cry. It was the greatest gift, she stated.
King Richard’s world premiere was at Telluride Film Festival September, and has since been shown at other festivals such as Chicago, Philadelphia and London.
King Richard is in the cinemas, and on HBO Max’s streaming service via Friday.
Family: Venus and Serena are shown with Richard Williams, their father back in 1992.