Will Smith broke the internet in 2022 after he slapped Chris Rock at the Academy Awards event and turned into a controversial star overnight. But somehow, Charlize Theron seemed like she was already aware of Smith’s weird personality since 2000.
Appearing on the David Letterman show, the Atomic Blonde actress was asked about her filming experience with Will Smith in their 2000 sports fantasy, The Legend of Bagger Vance. Scoffing off, Charlize Theron recalled a horrible golf match that they played for charity and how badly Smith behaved throughout the game.
Charlize Theron’s Worst Experience With Will Smith
Charlize Theron has been in the entertainment industry for a long time. Starting her career in the 1990s, the actress got her first big break with the horror drama The Devil’s Advocate in 1997. Thereafter, Theron appeared in several acclaimed projects and shared the screen with renowned stars.
But there’s this one actor she scoffed at from the industry, and yet repeatedly shared the screen with him. According to reports, it’s none other than Will Smith who gave a hard time to Charlize Theron, and even the actress didn’t hold back on exposing Smith’s true nature. Following her appearance in The Legend of Bagger Vance (2000), Theron again shared the screen with Smith in Hancock (2008).
However, appearing on the David Letterman show after the release of The Legend of Bagger Vance, Charlize Theron revealed her experience with Will Smith. On being asked by the host if she had “great fun” working with Smith, Theron immediately scoffed at the question and went on to narrate her horrible golf match with the actor.
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Will Smith Later Came Up With a Bizarre Apology
Discussing how she and Will Smith took part in a golf match for charity, Charlize Theron called the actor “weird” and “very competitive”. Stating that it was the “worst experience” of her life, Theron continued to spill Smith’s “freak” violent tendencies. Beginning the story by asking David Letterman if he ever played golf, the Bombshell actress shared,
“I picked up the game when I made the film, because of boredom…I’m not [good at it], I mean at least I admit that much…I just played with him [Will Smith] two weeks ago for a charity and, it was I think the worst experience of my life…he’s a complete freak in many things, but especially with golf.”
Calling out the actor for his zealous nature, especially during a charity golf match, Charlize Theron expressed her rage towards Will Smith. Instead of holding back, the actress recalled how the ladies’ game was being ignored during the event, and that made her “so mad”. “We were mic-ed so I couldn’t tell him, ‘What the hell is wrong with you, idiot?’” Theron shared.
“They got a walking message through that we were losing, and then they became real guys. Now, we gotta win.”
Quite obviously, with that competitive nature, Will Smith and his team won the match, and Charlize Theron gave him a pissed-off look. Which eventually made Smith realize his mistake and apologize. But according to Theron, his apology came with a bizarre but brilliant excuse.
“Two days later, he called me and apologized because he knew. I gave him that look…but he had quite a brilliant excuse. He said he was dehydrated.”
With audiences laughing and applauding at Will Smith’s excuse, Charlize Theron wrapped up the story and went ahead to talk about her 2000 movie, The Legend of Bagger Vance.
