Before the Oscar, before the slap: Will Smith once got very gay
Welcome to Screen Gems, our weekend dive into queer and queer-adjacent titles of the past that deserve a watch or a re-watch.Long before Will Smith landed himself in the hot seat for his behavior on an Oscar telecast, and long before he reigned as one of the most bankable stars in the world, the man known as the Fresh Prince had to prove himself as an actor.Six Degrees of Separation aimed to move Smith beyond his rapper and sitcom roots.
Based on the play of the same name, the movie cast Smith as Paul, a New York City rentboy with a knack for navigating high society.
One night, he arrives on the doorstep of socialites Flan and Ouisa Kittredge (Donald Sutherland and Stockard Channing) bleeding and crying for help.
His appearance frightens the couple at first, but they welcome him to their home when he assures them he’s a friend of their kids.
