Actor Will Smith opened up about how the emptiness of fame and money has led him to “trust himself and God” as he has sought to create a “brand new” version of himself.
In a candid conversation with Christian rapper Lecrae on the April 4 episode of The Deep End with Lecrae, Smith revealed how his spiritual journey helped him change after his infamous incident at the 2022 Academy Awards when he slapped comedian Chris Rock.
“It’s such a rare gift to reach the end of the material world,” Smith explained. “To reach the end of money, to get to the point where you can buy anything you want, and you sit in your house and there’s nothing else to buy. Buying things used to scratch an itch. Now there’s nothing left.”
He continued, “To have had all the sex that you wanted. How many more No. 1 movies do I need? How many more Grammys do I need? It’s such a rare gift to get to the end of the material world and a place where only God is left.”
He further explained that no external achievements — whether a new job, relationship, or worldly success — would bring fulfillment.
“There’s no country you can go to, no new job that’s going to do it. You get to the end of it. It’s excruciating, but I would wish that on everybody. I wish everybody could get everything they want to see that it doesn’t satisfy,” he said.
The Independence Day star elaborated that while he was influenced by his Christian grandmother, his beliefs have also been shaped by other world religions, including Islam, Hinduism, and Buddhism.
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“My religion is love,” he said. “I believe in the oneness and the possibility of harmony of people who are reaching for the one truth.”
Smith released his new album, Based on a True Story, on March 28 — his first full album in 20 years.
