Will Smith Makes Rare Public Appearance at J. Balvin’s Coachella Set
Balvin’s 2024 Coachella set became the talk of the town this week as the singer brought on stage his surprise guest, Will Smith, for an out-of-the-world performance.
The “Mi Gente” singers’ Coachella performances are known for their stunning sets. This particular number featured a sci-fi theme, an alien abduction, and the Fresh Prince of Bel-Air actor.
Smith stunned the audience as he joined the performance yelling “Coachella,” while donning his trademark Men In Black suit and sunglasses. The rapper and actor then proceeded to sing and perform his 1997, “Men In Black,” music video accompanied by backup dancers in alien costumes and black suits.
The performance also had Balvin being mock-carried away by men in black suits. Smith then pulled out the iconic memory-wiping device, the neutralizer, from the 90s film franchise. It ended with the words, “Dance in your Darkest Moments,” appearing on all the screens around the stage.
The performance was well-received by audiences, which was no surprise considering Smith’s long disappearance from the public after his Oscar scandal.
The Coachella performance marks Smith’s first public showing since he fell from grace for slapping Chris Rock at the Oscars. It’s been two years since and Smith’s been keeping a low profile.
The Men In Black star did make a public apology in a July 2022 video to Rock for the 2022 incident. Rock only commented on the video in 2023 during his comedy special on Netflix, Chris Rock: Selective Outrage. The matter seems to be at a standstill for now.
While the slap got Smith banned from the Oscars until 2032, his acting career hasn’t lost steam. The actor will be returning to the big screen in Bad Boys 4, I Am Legend 2, Fast and Loose, The Council, etc.
Only last month, news of the Will and Jada Smith Family Foundation closing down came to light. The cause was said to be a fall in donations that resulted in a $1.5 million drop in revenues between 2021 and 2022.
However, all seems to be well in the Smith family as they turned up at Coachella 2024. Apart from Smith’s performance, the festival also witnessed the presence of Jada Pinkett Smith and her daughter Willow. The family posted a series of photos on Instagram that showed them enjoying the event with friends and family. The carousel of photos also included one with Justin Bieber which was captioned, “A great show and old friends.”
Although Smith’s appearance stole the spotlight, Balvin’s number was nothing short of show-stopping. The singer went on to perform his hits “Ginza,” “Con Altura,” and “Qué Calor.”
The singer has taken a step back from social media and music to focus on his family and mental health. Back in 2020, Balvin admitted to experiencing depression. “I was just crying for no reason. Didn’t want to wake up, didn’t want to eat, didn’t even want to live—and I didn’t know why,” he confessed.
Despite his break from music, fans don’t need to wait too long for another performance. Balvin is scheduled for multiple tours and concerts the year after his performance at Coachella.
