Will Smith to Perform New Song at BET Awards 2 Years After Oscar Slap

Will Smith is preparing to conquer the music industry two years after his infamous Oscars slap.

On Sunday, June 30, the BET Awards will present performances and honor the artists in the industry. The ceremony will also reportedly see Smith perform his new, original song.

According to NBC News, there have been sources who claimed Smith has been working on a new album following his cameo with J Balvin at the Coachella Festival in April. The Men in Black actor wore his notable costume to join the Columbia star's UFO-themed performance.

"From his start as a rapper to 'The Fresh Prince' to being a box office king as one of the Bad Boys, Will Smith is truly a global icon, and we are honored to welcome him back to grace the BET Awards stage," said Connie Orlando, EVP specials, music programming and music strategy at BET. "We look forward to Will adding to yet another defining night for the culture that is not to be missed."

It will serve as Smith's first major solo performance over two years following the infamous slap heard around the world. The incident, involving Chris Rock, happened after the latter made a joke about Jada Pinkett Smith.

Will has since apologized twice, but he was still banned from Academy events for 10 years.

"I was fogged out by that point. It's all fuzzy. I've reached out to Chris and the message that came back is that he's not ready to talk, and when he is he will reach out," he said in his first on-camera apology on YouTube. "So I will say to you, Chris, I apologize to you."

More performers will join Will at the BET Awards stage, including Queen Latifah, Cardi B, Gunna, Ice Spice, Latto, Lauryn Hill & YG Marley, Sexxy Red, Tanner Adell, Victoria Monét, Shaboozey, Tyla, Common and more.

Meanwhile, Drake leads the BET Awards nominees after scoring seven nominations. See the full list below:

Album of the year

Chris Brown, 11:11
Gunna, A Gift & A Curse
21 Savage, American Dream
Usher, Coming Home
Drake, For All the Dogs (Scary Hours Edition)
Victoria Monét, Jaguar II
Killer Mike, Michael
Nicki Minaj, Pink Friday 2

Best Female R&B/Pop Artist

Beyoncé
Coco Jones
Doja Cat
H.E.R.
Muni Long
SZA
Tyla
Victoria Monét

Best male R&B/pop artist

Brent Faiyaz
Bryson Tiller
Burna Boy
Chris Brown
Drake
Fridayy
October London
Usher

Best group

¥$, Ye, Ty Dolla $ign
2 Chainz & Lil Wayne
41
Blxst & Bino Rideaux
City Girls
Flo
Maverick City Music
Wanmor

Best collaboration

Lil Durk feat. J. Cole, "All My Life"
Beyoncé feat. Kendrick Lamar, "America Has a Problem (Remix)"
Nicki Minaj & Ice Spice (With Aqua), "Barbie World"
Cardi B feat. Megan Thee Stallion, "Bongos"
¥$, Ye, Ty Dolla $ign feat. Rich The Kid, Playboi Carti, "Carnival"
Lola Brooke feat. Latto & Yung Miami, "Don't Play With It (Remix)"
Nicki Minaj feat. Lil Uzi Vert, "Everybody"
Usher, Summer Walker & 21 Savage, "Good Good"
Drake feat. Sexyy Red & SZA, "Rich Baby Daddy"

Best female hip-hop artist

Cardi B
Doja Cat
GloRilla
Ice Spice
Latto
Megan Thee Stallion
Nicki Minaj
Sexyy Red

Best male hip-hop artist

21 Savage
Burna Boy
Drake
Future
Gunna
J. Cole
Kendrick Lamar
Lil Wayne

Best new artist

41
4Batz
Ayra Starr
Bossman Dlow
Fridayy
October London
Sexyy Red
Tyla

Video of the year

Doja Cat, "Agora Hills"
Lil Durk feat J. Cole, "All My Life"
Nicki Minaj & Ice Spice (With Aqua), "Barbie World"
Cardi B feat. Megan Thee Stallion, "Bongos"
Drake feat. J. Cole, "First Person Shooter"
Usher, Summer Walker & 21 Savage, "Good Good"
Victoria Monét, "On My Mama"
Drake feat. Sexyy Red & SZA, "Rich Baby Daddy"

Video director of the year

Benny Boom
Child.
Cole Bennett
Dave Meyers
Janelle Monáe & Alan Ferguson
Offset
Tems
Tyler, The Creator

Dr. Bobby Jones Best Gospel/Inspirational Award

Shirley Caesar, "Award All of the Glory"
Kirk Franklin, "All Things"
Halle Bailey, "Angel"
CeCe Winans, "Come Jesus Come"
Erica Campbell, Do You Believe in Love?"
Maverick City Music, Naomi Raine & Chandler Moore, "God Problems"
Tems, "Me & U"
Kirk Franklin, "Try Love"

Viewer's choice award

Doja Cat, "Agora Hills"
Lil Durk feat. J. Cole, "All My Life"
Gunna, "Fukumean"
Jack Harlow, "Lovin on Me"
Muni Long, "Made for Me"
Victoria Monét, "On My Mama"
Drake feat. Sexyy Red & SZA, "Rich Baby Daddy"
Chris Brown feat. Davido & Lojay, "Sensational"
Beyoncé, "Texas Hold 'Em"
Tyla, "Water"

Best international act

Asake (Africa)
Aya Nakamura (France)
Ayra Starr (Africa)
Bk' (Brazil)
Cleo Sol (UK)
Focalistic (Africa)
Karol Conká (Brazil)
Raye (UK)
Tiakola (France)
Tyla (Africa)

Viewer's choice: best new international act

Bellah (UK)
Cristale (UK)
Duquesa (Brazil)
Holly G (France)
Jungeli (France)
Makhadzi (Africa)
Oruam (Brazil)
Seyi Vibez (Africa)
Tyler Icu (Africa)

BET Her

Beyoncé, "16 Carriages"
Nicki Minaj feat. Tasha Cobbs Leonard, "Blessings"
Ayra Starr, "Commas"
Flo feat. Missy Elliott, "Fly Girl"
Megan Thee Stallion, "Hiss"
Victoria Monét, "On My Mama"
SZA, "Saturn"
GloRilla, "Yeah Glo!"

Best movie

American Fiction
Bob Marley: One Love
Renaissance: A Film by Beyoncé
Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse
The Book of Clarence
The Color Purple
The Equalizer 3
The Little Mermaid

Best actor

Anthony Mackie
Colman Domingo
Damson Idris
Denzel Washington
Donald Glover
Idris Elba
Jeffrey Wright
Lakeith Stanfield

Best actress

Angela Bassett
Ayo Edebiri
Coco Jones
Danielle Brooks
Fantasia
Halle Bailey
Issa Rae
Regina King

YoungStars Award

Akira Akbar
Blue Ivy Carter
Demi Singleton
Heiress Diana Harris
Jabria McCullum
Jalyn Hall
Leah Jeffries
Van Van

Sportswoman of the Year Award

A'ja Wilson
Angel Reese
Coco Gauff
Flau'jae Johnson
Juju Watkins
Naomi Osaka
Sha'carri Richardson
Simone Biles

Sportsman of the Year Award

Anthony Edwards
Gervonta Davis
Jalen Brunson
Jalen Hurts
Kyrie Irving
Lebron James
Patrick Mahomes
Stephen Curry

Tags

Will Smith, BET Awards