The bosses of Will Smith’s talent agency, Creative Artists Agency (CAA), have spent the last week grappling with what to do after their star actor’s violent outburst at the Oscars last weekend.
Smith is said to have slapped comedian Chris Rock in the face after insulting a joke at the expense of his wife, Jada Pinkett Smith.
Bryan Lourd, Richard Lovett and Kevin Huvan, who run CAA, which represents countless A-list stars in media and sports, were immediately caught in a quandary as their bankable star had just picked up his gong for Best Actor.
The bosses of Will Smith’s talent agency, Creative Artists Agency (CAA), have spent the last week grappling with what to do after their star actor’s violent outburst at the Oscars
It seems Smith is safe for now, but the talent agency is keen to see she makes the right decision. Pictured is Smith delivering his Best Actor speech at the Oscars
The agency has attempted to weigh the pros and cons of the situation and whether to keep Smith in the books, believing that in time it might be acceptable for him to appear in films again.
According to The Daily Beast, a furious debate raged within the agency over whether Smith should be dropped.
The discussion culminated last week in a leadership retreat at the luxurious oceanfront Terranea Resort in Rancho Palos Verdes, California.
The event drew about 100 agents and talent managers at the property for the first major gathering since the pandemic.
CAA executives, from left Richard Lovett, Kevin Huvane and Bryan Lourd, are said to be divided on whether Smith should stay with the agency. Lovett wants Smith to stay, but Lourd doesn’t
The internal debate is said to have been made public in the industry after a seaside retreat last week in California with 100 other executives at the Terranea Resort in Rancho Palos Verdes, California
According to The Beast, CAA executives appeared completely divided as they made the rounds to speak to other industry professionals.
It is believed that Lourd wanted Smith off the list, while Lovett seemed “exhausted” from the entire episode and subsequent episodes but was genuine in his belief that Smith should stay on board.
It seems Smith is safe for now, but the agency is keen to see she makes the right decision, especially after the CAA had an association with disgraced film producer and convicted sex offender Harvey Weinstein.
A spokesman for CAA has denied there is any such split within the agency’s ranks or that the talks even took place, telling The Daily Beast: “There is no truth to that. Just never happened.’
The talent agency can look to history for lessons on how to deal with the fallout for their star.
WME dumped Mel Gibson in 2010 when he was caught on tape saying the N-word during a traffic stop. WME also fired Brett Ratner and Bryan Singer over sexual misconduct allegations.
Megyn Kelly has been fired from CAA after the former Fox News host defended the use of blackface while live on her own NBC television show.
Former Fox News star Bill O’Reilly has been axed from UTA after it was revealed he had paid $32 million as part of a settlement of one of multiple sexual harassment lawsuits against him.
Smith (left) had also been developing Bad Boys 4 for Sony, but a source told THR the project has also been put on hold for the time being. Sony has been keen to continue the popular franchise with Martin Lawrence (right) making $204 million at the box office in 2020
Regardless of the agency, Smith will face production setbacks over his outburst as his upcoming Netflix film Fast and Loose and Bad Boys 4 are both being shelved, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
Fast and Loose was originally slated to be helmed by Deadpool 2 director David Leitch, but he pulled out of the project just a week before the Oscars.
A source told THR that both Netflix and Universal had been fighting over a new project from Leitch, but that the traditional studio appealed to him more than the streaming platform.
After the loss, Netflix was urgently looking for a new director to take on Smith’s project.
After Smith shocked audiences at home and in Hollywood by slapping Rock, Netflix decided to shelve his film, the source told THR.
Smith had also been developing Bad Boys 4 for Sony, but a source told THR the project has also been put on hold for the time being.
The star had already been sent 40 pages of the script as Sony was keen to capitalize on the success of Bad Boys for Life, which grossed $204 million at the box office in 2020.
Smith still has the Apple TV+ film Emancipation, due for release later this year, which could provide a glimpse into the actor’s popularity and his impact on post-Oscar projects.
Bad Boys for Life was one of the highest grossing films of 2020, grossing $425 million worldwide
News broke over the weekend that Smith’s biopic has descended into chaos after Netflix and Apple+ reportedly pulled out of a bidding war.
Insiders are believed to have claimed the two streaming giants have withdrawn their competing bids for the film about the Hollywood star’s life, based on his best-selling autobiography Will.
A source told The Sun, “Netflix and Apple+ have quietly withdrawn their bids for a Will Smith biopic and will instead reallocate funds and come up with original ideas from new black actors.”
The source added that working with the rapper has now become a “risky business” as his upcoming film projects are being put on hold in the wake of the scandal.
Insiders claim Netflix and Apple have withdrawn their competing bids for the film about the Hollywood star’s life, based on his best-selling autobiography Will
While many wonder if Smith’s career will slow down or if audiences will turn their backs on him, Evan Nierman, CEO of crisis PR agency Red Banyan, claims Smith is here to stay.
“Will Smith is too big to be canceled even after committing an assault on live television in front of tens of millions of people,” Nierman told Newsweek.
“He’s already received special treatment for being on the A-list, including being allowed to stay at the awards ceremony despite his outburst of violence.”
Entertainment attorney Domenic Romano said Smith only had to wait until public memory faded and continue to appear compassionate and regretful to enjoy a proper comeback.
“Much will depend on what actions he takes to speak out against violence and whether he sends a clear and consistent message that his reaction to a distasteful joke is unacceptable,” the NYC-based managing partner told Fox News and adding: “If he’s making an effort to make amends, he should recover within the next 12 months, if not sooner.”
Will Smith, who won Best Actor for his portrayal of Richard Williams, is unlikely to be invited to announce the Best Actress award next year
Smith – who took offense at Rock’s joke about his wife’s shaved head as a result of alopecia – has announced his retirement from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, saying he “betrayed” her trust.
Now the star, who won this year’s Best Actor award for his portrayal of Richard Williams, father of tennis stars Venus and Serena, in King Richard, is unlikely to be invited to next year’s Best Actress award admit. . . a task that in recent years has been taken on by the previous year’s Best Actor.
One academician said: “Some of the members say Will jumped before he was pushed. The executives are still in complete disbelief at what happened.’
Smith will no longer vote for Oscars or attend special Academy events in the future, but he will continue to qualify for future Oscar nominations.
“I resign my membership in the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences and will accept any further consequences that the board deems appropriate,” he wrote in a statement.
“Change takes time and I am committed to doing the work to ensure I never again allow violence to overtake reason,” Smith concluded.
The academy said it would “keep moving forward” with the disciplinary process.