Will Smith will perform his first song at his first awards ceremony since the Oscars

Actor and rapper Will Smith will perform at the BET Awards this Sunday, his first awards show appearance since his loss at the 2022 Oscars.

Smith’s appearance on the show came two years after he was banned from the Academy Awards for 10 years for slapping comedian Chris Rock for making a joke about his wife during the broadcast.

“From his early days as a rapper to The Fresh Prince to his blockbuster performance as one of the Bad Boys, Will Smith is truly a global icon and we are honored to welcome him back to the BET Awards stage,” the network wrote in a statement. “We look forward to Will contributing to another defining night for culture that will not be missed.”

In addition to Smith, other celebrities will also be seen at the awards ceremony, including musicians Ice Spice and Usher, with the latter being honored with the Lifetime Achievement Award. Taraji P. Henson, known for her roles in Unrecognized heroes And The colour purplewill host the show.

After being banned from the Oscars for a decade, Smith released a video in July 2022 apologizing for the slap and calling his behavior “unacceptable.” He also acknowledged that his behavior was “probably irreparable.”

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Rock largely rejected Smith’s apology, stating that “everyone’s trying to be the f***ing victim.” He also joked that “anyone who says words hurt has never been punched in the face.”

The Oscar slap came on the same night that Smith was nominated for best actor for his performance in King Richardin which he played Richard Williams, the father of tennis stars Serena and Venus Williams. Smith’s latest film, Bad Boys: Ride or Diewas released in theaters on June 7 and grossed $289 million worldwide on a budget of $100 million.