Will Smith: ‘Everybody Is Prejudiced,’ But ‘Racism Is Actually Rare’

BIG HOLLYWOOD ^ | 23 Nov 2015 | DANIEL NUSSBAUM

[Bratch]

Will Smith says that prejudice could not have affected his massively successful acting career because, at the end of the day, “everybody is prejudiced” – but “racism is actually rare,” the star notes, and “America is the only place on Earth” that allows “people that look like” him the opportunity to be a star.

The actor was interviewed with five other A-listers for The Hollywood Reporter‘s Actor Roundtable conversation when he was asked whether prejudice had affected his decades-long acting career.

“My wife and I were just having this conversation, and we were going to the dictionary for ‘prejudice’ versus ‘racism,'” Smith replied, adding:

Everybody is prejudiced. Everybody has their life experiences that make them prefer one thing over another — it makes them prefer blond hair over a brunette; if you see somebody with dark skin walking down the street, you have a different reaction than you have [with] someone who is 5-foot-1 and white. But there is a connotation with racism of superiority: You feel that your race generally is superior. And I have to say, I live with constant prejudice, but racism is actually rare — someone who thinks their race is superior. I don’t want to work for them. I don’t want to work at that company. And the times I have come in contact with it, you get away from those people.

[JimRed]

Other black actors/comedians I admire...

You listed more "blacktors" there than the number of movies I've attended in the past 40 years!

I usually wait until they hit the small screen.

[JimRed]

Cultural analysis and comment is not racisim

Unless it contains unpleasant but truthful commentary about a "protected" class.

TRUTH: It's the new HATE SPEECH.

[bert]

I have reclaimed the language and disregard any whining from the protected class or their protectors

you should too...... if you want America to be America

[JimRed]

you should too...... if you want America to be America

Check my history. I think I'm the one who started "HOMOSEXUAL, because there's nothing GAY about it." Or did I steal it somewhere? Now I don't remember. I think that exposing the concept of truth being the new hate speech will help awaken people to the phoniness permeating our society, and create more politically incorrect (IOW truthful) commentary.

Your mileage may vary.

[Albion Wilde]

You listed more "blacktors" there than the number of movies I've attended in the past 40 years! I usually wait until they hit the small screen.

I've only seen some of those I listed on the small screen, like most of the comedians except for Will Smith, Latifah, LL Cool J, Arsenio Hall and Eddie Murphy, who have all been featured on the big screen. Just don't ask me for a list of white actors/comedians I have seen or we'll be here until the middle of next week.

For years, I went to the movie theater 2-3 times a month, rented dozens of movies and watched movies on TV (up to 100 movies per year) until the past couple of years, when practically every one contains some kind of filth or Marxism. Now I see a maybe 10 to 20 carefully selected movies a year. (I have always read and studied books, too.)

Before the days of rapid video rental, I had been known to go to the theater three to five times to see a particularly appealing film again and again. Two I can think of I did that for were Cinema Paradiso and O Brother Where Art Thou (of which I also have the DVD, the CD of the soundtrack, and a DVD of a live concert of its soundtrack). I'm living on the wrong coast.

The young people have it so easy... We had to walk miles through the snow to get to the movies... LOL!

[Albion Wilde]

bumping your comment for later

[Bratch]

I've maintained that Will Smith is a pretty straight-up guy.

Not if you believe the gossip sites.

[bert]

Aw right then..... let s keep it up

[Still Thinking]

Wow. Good man.

[Lizavetta]

True that. His wife Jada is a dyed-in-the-wool community organizer type.

Time for them to organize the dipshit out of their d-bag son.

[Still Thinking]

At the current rate, that guy’s going to need to be like a thousand before he stops being a moron. I don’t think he’s going to make it.

[Still Thinking]

Well, they didn’t check with me before bastardizing the definition, so I figure the change doesn’t apply to me. Obviously I understand the new meaning when I read others’ words, but when I chose my own, I stock to the definition I accept. Screw the re-definers.

[Still Thinking]

Did Norway have one of those subs with a screen door?

[Right Wing Assault]

In another article, he said racism isn’t getting worse, it’s just getting filmed more.

Part true. But I don’t remember the knockout game 8 years ago. I don’t remember flash mobs stealing whole stores. I don’t remember so many mostly non-black cops being randomly shot by black guys. I don’t remember BLM crowds invading a college library and restaurants and terrorizing white patrons. Maybe Will remembers those things, but I don’t.

[newfreep]

“Enemy of the State” is my favorite Gene Hackman film...at least from the moment his character appears in the flick.

Jon Voight was superb in the movie, too.

Smith? An “OK” performance, at best.

[Right Wing Assault]

Let’s see if he stands by his comments or walks them back following a mealy mouthed apology.

The clock is running. "Clarification," while surrounded by black "friends," due no later than 5 pm Hollywood time Monday.

[Bratch]

Well, since the quote is from a November 2015 article, I’d say things have changed a bit.

Wonder if he still feels that way?