Antoine Fuqua has defended the decision to release the film 'Emancipation', which marks Will Smith's first major project since he slapped Chris Rock at the Academy Awards earlier this year.
Antoine Fuqua has defended the decision to release 'Emancipation' in the wake of Will Smith's Oscars slap.
The 56-year-old filmmaker has helmed the historical thriller that stars Will as an enslaved man called Peter that is set for release in cinemas and on Apple TV+ next month.
It marks Smith's first major project since slapping comedian Chris Rock at the Academy Awards earlier this year after he had joked about his wife Jada Pinkett Smith and Fuqua says the theme of slavery is more important than the controversy.
He told Vanity Fair: "Of course I wanted people to see the film. My conversation was always, 'Isn't 400 years of slavery, of brutality, more important than one bad moment?'
"We were in Hollywood, and there's been some really ugly things that have taken place, and we've seen a lot of people get awards that have done some really nasty things."
Antoine added: "So, I think Apple considered all those things, and we discussed a lot of those things. Then, a decision was made by the people in charge of distribution and the money at Apple – and I'm grateful. I'm really grateful."
The 'Olympus Has Fallen' director revealed that Will's slap took him by surprise as he "hasn't met a nicer human being".
Antoine said: "(The slap) didn't feel real to me at all because I was with Will for two years, and I haven't met a nicer human being. I'm being honest about it. He was kind to everyone on the set.
"So, I saw a different person than that one moment in time, and so my reaction was that particular moment is very foreign to me when it comes to Will Smith.
"I have nothing but amazing things to say about Will Smith, really genuinely. You can ask anybody that worked on the movie, they'll tell you the same. Nicest person I've ever met in my life."
On the same day that Glastonbury welcomed back Margate's adopted sons, The Libertines, Margate itself put on it's very own Leisure Festival as it...
Sheffield's very own all girl group Pretty Fierce are still on a high after the recent release of their debut single - 'Ready For Me'.
Three nights before the end of his current tour Will Varley returned to his home town of Deal to delight a sold out crowd in The Astor Theatre.
With only a few days to go before Portsmouth based songstress and producer WYSE releases her new single, 'Belladonna', we caught up with her to find...
Colorado raised, Glasgow educated and Manchester based Bay Bryan is nothing if not a multi-talented, multi-faceted artist performing as both...
Former Marigolds band member Keelan Cunningham has rediscovered his love of music with his new solo project Keelan X.
Wiltshire singer-songwriter Luke De Sciscio, formally known as Folk Boy, is set to release is latest album - 'The Banquet' via AntiFragile Music on...
Electronic music pioneer and producer Annie Elise says that the release of her first EP - 'Breathe In, Breathe Out' feels "both vulnerable and...
After the murder of her husband, a widow and resident of the town of Rose...
Slick direction and meaty performances may be enough for some viewers, but this boxing drama's...
The life of a boxer has never been easy, but for heavyweight champion, Billy Hope...
Director Antoine Fuqua (Training Day, Olympus Has Fallen) talks about what makes The Equalizer (Denzel...
Robert McCall has a modest job at a hardware store in Boston where he longs...
President of the United States Benjamin Asher has had enough trauma while being in office,...
Watch the trailer for Brooklyn's FinestOver one week everything changes in the lives of three...