Will Smith Reacts To NAACP Image Award Win

Will Smith shared his reaction to winning the NAACP Image Award for Best Actor on Instagram, Sunday. It's Smith's first major award win since infamously slapping Chris Rock at the 94th Annual Academy Awards in 2022. Smith says that he's "absolutely humbled" by the latest win. The honor came in response to his performance in Emancipation.

"WOW!! NAACP!! I am absolutely humbled by this!! I want to share this with my entire #Emancipation family - @antoinefuqua, @charmainebingwa, Ben, Bob, Jon the whole team at @westbrook and @appletvplus…," Smith wrote on IG, before adding," I am so proud of the work we put into this film." From there he continued: "I would like to thank the NAACP for honoring our film! @derricknaacp - you and your entire organization - and the work you do all year round - is truly important, so to be recognized by y’all - it means a lot. Also - can we give my girl @queenlatifah her flowers? She is KILLIN’ it as host tonight!"

Emancipation follows Will Smith as Peter, a runaway slave headed for Baton Rouge while being chased by slave catchers and their dogs. The film is based on the real-life story of "Whipped Peter," who became known by being the subject of famous photographs circulated in the abolitionist movement during the American Civil War. Smith explained why he chose the role while speaking with The Hollywood Reporter, last October. “Throughout my career, I’ve turned down many films that were set in slavery,” Smith told the outlet. “I never wanted to show us like that. And then this picture came along. And this is not a film about slavery. This is a film about freedom, this is a film about resilience, this is a film about faith.”

Following Emancipation, Smith is currently working on Bad Boys 4. Smith and co-star Martin Lawrence announced the next installment in the franchise, last month. The film is in pre-production and has yet to receive an official release date.

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