Hollywood is full of "what ifs," but few are as awkward as the time a young, terrified Fresh Prince almost derailed his first major movie role. We’re talking about 1993. Long before the Oscars slap or the Red Table Talk revelations, there was the will smith gay scene that never actually happened—at least, not the way the director wanted.
It was for Six Degrees of Separation. Smith played Paul, a smooth-talking con artist who convinces wealthy New Yorkers he’s the son of Sidney Poitier. It was a career-defining role. But when it came time to lock lips with co-star Anthony Michael Hall, Will blinked. He just couldn't do it.
The Kiss That Was a Cheat
Honestly, if you watch the movie today, the scene looks... weird. It’s a "flagrant movie cheat," as critics have called it. The camera sits behind Smith’s head. You see him lean in, you see the back of his neck, and then—cut.
Director Fred Schepisi had to use a stand-in and clever camera angles because his leading man refused to film the actual kiss. It wasn't a technical glitch. It was a choice. A choice that Smith now looks back on with a lot of regret.
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"It was very immature on my part," he told Entertainment Weekly not long after the film’s release. He was 25. He was a rapper from Philly trying to transition into a "serious" actor, and he was absolutely terrified of what his friends back home would think.
Why Denzel Washington Got Involved
Here’s a detail that sounds like Hollywood lore but is actually true: Denzel Washington told him not to do it.
Before the shoot, Will reached out to Denzel for advice. Denzel’s response? "Don't be kissing no man." Basically, the veteran actor warned the newcomer that an on-screen gay kiss could pigeonhole him or hurt his leading-man image before it even started.
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You've gotta remember the era. In the early 90s, the "action hero" mold was incredibly rigid. Will took that advice to heart. He told the director he wasn't "emotionally stable enough" to commit to that part of the script.
Ian McKellen Wasn't Having It
Not everyone on set was sympathetic to Will's nerves. Sir Ian McKellen, who also starred in the film, didn't hide his disappointment. McKellen is a legend and a pioneer for LGBTQ+ rights, and he found Will’s "twinge of homophobia" (his words) to be unseemly.
In fact, McKellen reportedly trolled Will a bit at the Los Angeles premiere. He walked up to the young star and gave him a big kiss right in front of the paparazzi. Sort of a "welcome to the real world" moment.
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Modern Rumors vs. Movie History
Fast forward to 2026, and the will smith gay scene is still a major search term, but for different reasons. People aren't just looking for 90s trivia anymore. Recent years have seen a surge in "viral allegations" and lawsuits that have kept Will’s name in the tabloids for all the wrong reasons.
- The Brother Bilaal Claims: In late 2023, a former assistant made wild, unverified claims about witnessing Will in a sexual encounter with actor Duane Martin. Smith’s team called it "completely fabricated."
- The 2025/2026 Lawsuit: Most recently, a tour violinist named Brian King Joseph filed a lawsuit alleging sexual harassment during Smith's 2025 tour.
It’s important to separate the art from the allegations. The "gay scene" in Six Degrees of Separation was a scripted moment for a fictional character. The recent headlines are legal battles and gossip that Smith’s lawyers are currently fighting in court. Smith has consistently identified as heterosexual and dismissed these rumors as baseless.
What Actors Can Learn From the "Missed Kiss"
There's a real lesson in how Will handled that 1993 production. He later admitted that by refusing the kiss, he failed as an artist. "Either you do it, or you don't," he said. You can't go halfway into a character.
If you’re an aspiring performer or just a fan of film history, here are the takeaways from this weird chapter of cinema:
- Commitment matters. Smith’s performance was great, but the scene itself remains a "clunky" blemish on a nearly perfect film.
- Times change. What Denzel Washington saw as career suicide in 1993 is now a standard path to an Oscar for many straight actors.
- Regret is a teacher. Smith used that "immaturity" to fuel his later, more fearless roles.
If you want to see the performance that almost won him an Oscar early on, go back and watch Six Degrees of Separation. Just don't expect to see a real kiss. The camera tricks are the only "action" you'll get in that particular scene.