TOTAL BS:
LOS ANGELES — Attorneys representing actor Will Smith opened a review Monday after Vice President JD Vance appeared to use a version of the actor’s most famous Academy Awards line during a campaign appearance in Michigan.
The inquiry was closed shortly afterward when attorneys were briefed on Abdul El-Sayed.
Vance made the remarks while campaigning against the Democratic Senate candidate, whom he accused of repeatedly bringing Second Lady Usha Vance into his political attacks. “
Whatever you want to talk about Abdul, keep my wife’s name the hell outta your mouth, because she’s way outta your league!” Vance said.
The remark immediately drew comparisons to Smith’s confrontation with comedian Chris Rock at the 2022 Academy Awards.
According to people familiar with the matter, Smith’s legal team initially considered sending Vance a cease-and-desist letter. “Mr. Smith has spent several years establishing a clear association with the phrase,” attorney Skip Rockman said. “We had an obligation to determine whether unauthorized use had occurred.”
Attorneys then reviewed the circumstances surrounding Vance’s remarks. That review included previous comments from El-Sayed involving the vice president’s wife.
During an April podcast appearance, El-Sayed wondered aloud what Usha thinks when her husband speaks and joked that she must sometimes think, “Damn, I have to sleep with him.”
More recently, after Vance discussed his late grandfather, El-Sayed again brought the Second Lady into the conversation. “So do we think JD is taking Usha with him back in time to meet Papaw, or no…” El-Sayed wrote.
Smith’s attorneys subsequently closed their investigation. “We withdraw our complaint,” Rockman said in a statement.
“Mr. Vance appears to have had probable cause.”
The firm also granted Vance a one-time, royalty-free license to use the phrase. Under terms of the agreement, Vance may deliver the warning verbally, repeat it once and point in El-Sayed’s general direction.
Physical reenactments of the 2022 Academy Awards incident remain expressly prohibited.
Smith’s attorneys separately sent El-Sayed a complimentary copy of the firm’s newly published guidance: OTHER PEOPLE’S WIVES: WHEN NOT TO TALK ABOUT THEM
According to sources familiar with the matter, El-Sayed made it through three pages before mentioning Usha Vance again. “It’s going to be a long campaign,” Rockman said.
The firm has advised El-Sayed that he remains free to discuss Vance’s policies, political record, campaign positions and virtually any other subject relevant to Michigan voters.
Usha Vance is also permitted to speak about Usha Vance. El-Sayed has been advised that he is not. His campaign reportedly agreed to the terms Monday evening. The agreement remained in effect for approximately 11 minutes.
At that point, El-Sayed reportedly asked aides what Usha thought about Will Smith.
Smith’s attorneys declined further comment.
