​Surprise Will Smith photo after slap ​

Will Smith has been photographed for the first time since the night of the 2022 Oscars, where the Best Actor winner slapped Chris Rock onstage over a joke aimed at wife, Jada Pinkett Smith.

The King Richard star was spotted very far from his California home, as he emerged in Mumbai, India at the weekend.

The 53-year-old appeared to be in great spirits in photos, where he’s seen smiling with fans, taking pictures and waving to onlookers at a private airfield on Sunday.
 

While the purpose of the star’s trip abroad is unknown, it’s likely a welcome escape for the Oscar-winning actor, who was banned from all Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences events for 10 years after publicly assaulting Rock over a G.I. Jane joke he made about Pinkett Smith, who suffers from hair loss condition, alopecia.

After smacking the actor in her defence, Smith shouted at Rock, “Keep my wife’s name out your f**king mouth!”
 

The following day, the Independence Day star issued an apology to Rock and The Academy for his behaviour.

“My behaviour at last night’s Academy Awards was unacceptable and inexcusable. Jokes at my expense are a part of the job, but a joke about my Jada’s medical condition was too much for me to bear and I reacted emotionally.”

Smith went on to apologise to “the Academy, producers of the show, all the attendees and everyone watching around the world,” as well as to “the Williams Family and my King Richard Family.”
 

“I deeply regret that my behaviour has stained what has been an otherwise gorgeous journey for all of us,” he concluded. “I am a work in progress. Sincerely, Will.”

Smith also resigned from The Academy shortly before being banned.

This story originally appeared on New York Post and was reproduced with permission