Will Smith Ends His Search for Meaning: “I Had It All—And Still Felt Empty”

In a rare and deeply personal conversation, Hollywood megastar Will Smith opened up about his spiritual awakening after the infamous 2022 Oscars incident—where he slapped comedian Chris Rock live on stage. Appearing on Christian rapper Lecrae’s podcast The Deep End, Smith described the internal transformation that followed one of the darkest moments of his public life.

The Bad Boys actor revealed that, in the years since the backlash, he’s been on an inward journey—one that took him far beyond the red carpets, Grammys, and number-one blockbusters.“I got to the end of the material world,” Smith said. “There’s nothing left to buy, no place to go, no award left to win. I sat in my home, and it hit me—this isn’t what gives life meaning.”

Smith described the feeling as hitting the “cliff top,” a term he coined to describe the opposite of rock bottom—a place where he had everything, yet still felt hollow.“I’ve had all the sex I wanted, all the money, the houses, the fame… But none of it was enough. At the end of that road, there’s only God.”

He admitted that while his childhood was shaped by a Christian upbringing—thanks to his devout grandmother—his current spirituality is a fusion of Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, and Buddhism.“My religion is love,” he said. “I believe all people are reaching for the same truth, just in different ways.”

The actor emphasized that his search wasn’t about rejecting success—but about realizing that true peace, joy, and connection can’t be found in what the world offers.“I wish everyone could get everything they ever wanted—just so they could learn it’s not the answer.”With his comeback film Bad Boys: Ride or Die raking in $56 million at the box office, Will Smith seems to have found not just his footing in Hollywood again—but also something far more important: peace with himself.

Whether you’re a fan or a critic, it’s clear Smith’s story isn’t just about redemption—it’s about realization. And for him, that realization was simple: once you’ve gained the world, only God remains.