Bad Boys 4 still happening despite Will Smith Oscars slap

Bad Boys 4 is still in development despite Will Smith's assault on Chris Rock at the 2022 Oscars ceremony, according to Sony chairman Tom Rothman.

During the Academy Awards, Smith went on stage and slapped Rock after jokes were made about his wife, Jada Pinkett-Smith.

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He would later go on to win the Academy Award for Best Actor for his role in King Richard, but he would subsequently receive a 10-year ban from attending the ceremony due to his actions earlier in the evening.

As the fallout from the slap continues, several projects involving Smith have been delayed, though it was confirmed that Emancipation will be released in December of 2022.

Bad Boys 4 has been in development following the success of Bad Boys For Life, the third instalment in the series, and questions were raised about its production after Smith's Oscars ban

However, it is still on course.

“No. That was inaccurate,” Rothman told Deadline. “That movie’s been in development and still is. There weren’t any brakes to pump because the car wasn’t moving.”

The slap heard around the world

Rothman also commented on the incident involving Smith and Rock, and believes the former simply had a bad moment in front of the world.

“That was a very unfortunate thing that happened, and I don’t think it’s really my place to comment, except to say that I’ve known Will Smith for many years, and I know him to be a good person," he explained.

"That was an example of a very good person having a very bad moment, in front of the world. I believe his apology and regret is genuine, and I believe in forgiveness and redemption.”