JoJo Siwa exits Will Smith-backed film Bounce after Oscars slap controversy

JoJo Siwa has now backed out of Will Smith-backed film titled Bounce. This comes after his Oscars 2022 altercation with Chris Rock.

18-year-old singer and actress JoJo Siwa has now stepped away from starring in Will Smith-produced film, Bounce. This comes after his Oscars 2022 feud where the Academy Award winner slapped Chris Rock on stage at the live event. Will Smith has been receiving strong backlash ever since. Reality TV star JoJo Siwa has also pulled out her support for Smith’s backed movie adaptation of Bounce based on the YA book by Megan Shull.

Sources have told Variety that JoJo Siwa dropped out of the project 'months ago' and her decision is in no way related to Will Smith's incident at Oscars 2022, where he slapped Chris Rock on stage for making a joke about his wife, Jada Pinkett Smith. According to Variety, during the GLAAD Media Awards held recently, Siwa spoke about the same and said that the project is now put on hold and is almost over now. "That project got put on hold, and then went away. It wasn't the one," she told Variety.

JoJo Siwa then reiterated that her exit from the project had nothing to do with Smith's Oscars controversy, adding, "I normally stay out of all politics, it's not my gig. But, I will say that being kind to one another is very important. I think that can go both ways, kindness."

Will Smith's film, Bounce's adaptation was first announced in 2020. The feature film was brought to the studio by Cobra Kai's producer Caleb Pinkett.

Chris Rock was one of the presenters at the 94th Academy Awards. While presenting an award, he joked about Will Smith's wife, Jada Pinkett Smith, looking like GI Jane 2. Will Smith lost his cool, got up to the stage and punched him hard. He then took his seat and yelled at Chris. Smith said, "Keep my wife's name out of your f***** mouth." Chris said, "Will Smith smacked the shit out of me." Celebrities were shocked to see this incident. The live-streaming of Disney+ Hotstar also stopped for a while.

Here's the video:

Will Smith punches Chris Rock at the #Oscars.“Keep my wife’s name out of your fucking mouth”https://t.co/rS9wZ10d2V