The Hollywood actor said he understood if people were “not ready” for him to return to the awards circuit in 2023, but he hoped his film’s crew would not suffer.

Will Smith expressed his “deepest wish” that his new film’s team will not be “penalized” for his infamous Oscars slap during the forthcoming awards season.

The Hollywood actor stated that he understood if people were “not ready” for him to return to the awards circuit in 2023.

During the annual awards show in March, Smith stormed the stage and struck host Chris Rock after Rock made comments about Smith’s wife Jada Pinkett Smith.

Although he eventually apologized to Rock and the Academy, he was barred for ten years from all Academy activities and programs.

Emancipation is Smith’s first major motion picture after the occurrence.

When asked what he would say to those who believed it was “too soon” for him to return, he told Fox 5 in Washington, D.C.: “I understand if you are aware that someone is not prepared.

“I would certainly respect it and give them room to not be prepared.

My biggest priority is my team.

“The members of this team have performed some of the finest work of their lives, and I hope that my actions will not harm them.”

Smith stated that he hoped “the material power of the film” and “the relevance of the story” would “open people’s hearts” and allow them to appreciate the effort put into the picture.

Emancipation is based on the historical story of “whipped Peter,” a slave who escaped a Louisiana plantation in the 1860s after being nearly killed by whipping.

Photographs of his bare back brutally scourged from the overseer’s whippings, were published internationally in 1863, providing the abolitionist movement with evidence of the brutality of American slavery.

The film premieres in theatres on 2 December and will be available on Apple TV+ on 9 December.