Will Smith wants to change 'defund the police' to 'defund the bad police'
Will Smith is calling for an adjustment in "our marketing" when it comes to phrases like "defund the police."
The actor spoke with GQ for a profile published Monday ahead of the release of his forthcoming memoir, and at one point during the conversation, he urged Black Americans to "seize upon the present global opportunities" and "argue less about certain things." When asked what he means by that, Smith told GQ, "So 'Abolish the police. Defund the police.' I would love if we would just say 'Defund the bad police.' It's almost like I want, as Black Americans, for us to change our marketing for the new position we're in. So 'critical race theory,' just call it 'truth theory.'"
While acknowledging that he was getting into a "difficult area to discuss," Smith argued that the "simplicity of Black Lives Matter was perfect" because "anybody who tries to debate Black Lives Matter looks ridiculous." On the other hand, he contended that "'defund the police' doesn't get it done, no matter how good the ideas are." He added, "I'm not saying we shouldn't defund the police. I'm saying, just don't say that, because then people who would help you won't."
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Smith, an Oscar frontrunner this year for his performance in King Richard, also discussed his upcoming slavery drama Emancipation, explaining that he avoided films about slavery earlier in his career because he "wanted to depict Black excellence alongside my white counterparts." He also noted that he took this project to studios last year in the wake of the murder of George Floyd, telling GQ that Apple is putting an "unprecedented" amount of funding behind it.
"The entire world was in lockdown, watched what happened to George Floyd, and stood up with one voice and said, 'We see it. We agree,'" Smith said. "That's never happened before and with that the opportunities are unlike they've ever been."
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Brendan worked as a culture writer at The Week from 2018 to 2023, covering the entertainment industry, including film reviews, television recaps, awards season, the box office, major movie franchises and Hollywood gossip. He has written about film and television for outlets including Bloody Disgusting, Showbiz Cheat Sheet, Heavy and The Celebrity Cafe.
-
Quiz of The Week: 11 - 17 January
Have you been paying attention to The Week's news?
By The Week Staff Published
-
The Week Unwrapped: Why are women deserting the pill?
Podcast Plus, are ultraprocessed foods changing the shape of our faces? And are TikTok's days numbered?
By The Week UK Published
-
Forbidden Territories: an 'ambitious and ingenious' exhibition
The Week Recommends 'Extravaganza' of a show features an array of works celebrating 100 years of surrealist landscapes
By The Week UK Published
-
Honda and Nissan in merger talks
Speed Read The companies are currently Japan's second and third-biggest automakers, respectively
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Taylor Swift wraps up record-shattering Eras tour
Speed Read The pop star finally ended her long-running tour in Vancouver, Canada
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Drake claims illegal boosting, defamation
Speed Read The rapper accused Universal Music of boosting Kendrick Lamar's diss track and said UMG allowed him to be falsely accused of pedophilia
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
'Wicked' and 'Gladiator II' ignite holiday box office
Speed Read The combination of the two movies revitalized a struggling box office
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Jussie Smollet conviction overturned on appeal
Speed Read The Illinois Supreme Court overturned the actor's conviction on charges of staging a racist and homophobic attack against himself in 2019
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Quincy Jones, music icon, is dead at 91
Speed Read The legendary producer is perhaps best known as the architect behind Michael Jackson's 'Thriller'
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
OJ Simpson, star athlete tried for murder, dead at 76
Speed Read The former football hero and murder suspect lost his battle with cancer
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Momofuku's 'Chili Crunch' trademark uproar
Speed Read The company's attempt to own the sole rights has prompted backlash
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published