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Will Smith has fans divided over a viral musical moment from Univision’s Premio Lo Nuestro Awards show.
The rapper and actor, 56, was performing a song called “First Love” with singer India Martinez on Thursday, February 20. During the performance he appeared to try to kiss the 39-year-old singer on the lips, only to have her walk away, leaving him with pursed lips. Moments later in the same clip, Martinez approaches Smith and comes close to kissing him herself, although it appears that their lips did not actually touch.
Romain Maurice/Getty Images
Martinez posted the clip on her Instagram, captioning it with the lyrics from the song: “I want that first passion I want them first hugs I want them hard cries I want that FIRST LOVE ♥️,” before adding, “otra perspectiva, misma pasión!!” (DIfferent perspective, same passion.)
Fan reactions in the comments were as opinionated as they were divided. Some praised the Hitch star for looking happy and returning to music, while others said that the onstage moment of attempting to kiss Martinez was inappropriate.
Some fans credited his return to music to his separation from wife Jada Pinkett-Smith. (In 2023, the spouses revealed that they had lived separately since 2016, though they are still in each other’s lives.) One user said of Pinkett-Smith, “Jada, he don’t need her. She need him.” Another added, “Will has always been THAT Dude jada just broke him all the way down. Glad to see he’s back doing his first love music 🔥🔥🔥.” Smith famously slapped Chris Rock at the Oscars in 2022 after the comedian made fun of Pinkett-Smith’s hair.
Others left Pinkett-Smith out of their comments, simply noting that Smith looked happy. “I like Wil. I want him to be happy,” wrote one user. “Will is living life and I love to see it,” wrote another.
Several fans, however, took a less positive view of the moment. “This whole thing is cringe 😬,” wrote one Instagram user. “Will Smith gives off really creepy old man vibes in this clip. Cringe,” said another. “The grinding of his teeth, the jumpin jack, him amped up everytime she gets close like he’s losing his mind, it’s all a lot 😂😂😂😂😂,” read another critical comment.