Will Smith finally admitted what we’ve all been thinking Tuesday.
While speaking at the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity, Smith said that the 90s movie Wild Wild West was a mistake and that Muhammad Ali’s death has inspired him to focus on his philanthropic work.
Wild Wild West, which came out in 1999, made more than $200 million at the box office but also won a Razzie, an annual award given out for the worst films of the year. Smith admitted that starring in the movie was more about making money than it was putting out a good film.
“I had so much success that I started to taste global blood and my focus shifted from my artistry to winning,” Smith said. “I wanted to win and be the biggest movie star, and what happened was there was a lag — around Wild Wild West time — I found myself promoting something because I wanted to win versus promoting something because I believed in it.”
Smith also admitted that he pushed his children too much to make money in their own entertainment careers. He admitted that his daughter, Willow Smith, once shaved her head in a London hotel room after deciding she wanted to stop touring with Justin Bieber.
Smith said this and Ali’s funeral have prompted him to focus on his volunteer work. He currently works with two different philanthropic organizations, Just Water and Thrive Market.
Smith’s declaration of Wild Wild West comes to the surprise of almost no one who actually saw the film. There are others, however, who might be looking for apologies for some of Smith’s other films.
[AV Club/Image: Warner Bros.]
