Will Smith Expresses Gratitude To Fans Who Stood By Him After Oscars Slapgate: They Are Ride Or Die

Will Smith and Martin Lawrence will be seen in the latest installment of their buddy cop franchise Bad Boys: Ride or Die. The film is set to release on June 7. At the upcoming film's LA premiere at TCL Chinese Theatre, Smith reflected on how his fans stood by his side after his reputation took at hit in the aftermath of the infamous Oscars slapgate in 2022. Bad Boys: Ride Or Die marks Smith's it as his first independent film since the 2022 Oscars slap.

Smith grateful to his fans for standing by him during tough time

At the film's premiere, Smith and Lawrence were greeted by cheering fans. “It’s not just here,” Smith told Variety about the fans who continued to support him, even when his reputation faltered in the wake of the Oscars slap. “It’s all over the world. Every time we step out together, it’s nothing but love. I think the fans are ride or die also.”

Inside the TCL Chinese Theatre, the actor also thanked Sony Pictures Entertainment chairperson Tom Rothman for sticking by him. “Tom Rothman is a real life ride or die,” he said. “Tom Rothman was messing with me when nobody was messing with me. That is my dude.”

What do we know about Bad Boys: Ride Or Die?

In India, the movie will be released in English, Hindi, Tamil, and Telugu in 2D and IMAX formats, Sony Pictures Entertainment India said in a press release. Bad Boys: Ride or Die is the fourth chapter of Smith and Lawrence's "Bad Boys" franchise.

It sees the two actors reprising their roles of Detective Lieutenant Michael Eugene "Mike" Lowrey (Smith) and Detective Lieutenant Marcus Miles Burnett (Lawrence).

Filmmaker duo Adil El Arbi and Bilall Fallah, who made the franchise's previous entry, 2020's Bad Boys for Life, have also directed the fourth part.