Hollywood icon Will Smith celebrated Michael B. Jordan’s historic Oscar win on social media following the 98th Academy Awards. Jordan, star of Creed and Black Panther, won his first Best Actor Oscar on Sunday, March 15, making him the sixth Black actor to achieve this milestone.
Jordan Honors Black Hollywood Trailblazers
In his acceptance speech, Jordan paid tribute to previous Black Oscar winners, including Sidney Poitier, Denzel Washington, Halle Berry, Jamie Foxx, Forest Whitaker, and Will Smith.
“I stand here because of the people that came before me…to be amongst those giants, amongst those great greats, amongst my ancestors, amongst my guys,” Jordan said, acknowledging the trailblazing contributions of his fellow Black actors.
Will Smith’s Social Media Tribute
On March 16, Smith took to Instagram to congratulate Jordan. The Bad Boys star shared a photo of Jordan holding his Oscar and wrote:
“CONGRATS, Beloved. Makin’ History!”
Smith’s Own Oscar Legacy
The 57-year-old actor has been nominated for Best Actor for films including Ali and The Pursuit of Happyness, and won the Oscar for King Richard.
However, Smith’s 2022 win was overshadowed by an onstage altercation with comedian Chris Rock, resulting in a decade-long ban from attending the Oscars. Despite past controversies, Smith’s support for Jordan highlights the generational passing of the torch in Hollywood.