Will Smith is on the road again, touring overseas with his first headlining solo tour in two decades, the Based on a True Story Summer Tour. The tour kicked off on July 13 and runs through early September, but fans aren’t just talking about his music. They’re talking about his audience.
A recent video posted to Will’s social media shows him performing in venues packed with seemingly adoring fans. Viewers are seen holding up signs, getting emotional, and cheering loudly. Will captioned the clip, “My favorite part of the tour is seeing you all up close. Thank you for seeing me, too.”
Almost immediately, some fans were skeptical. Comments flooded social media, accusing Will of creating fake crowds using AI. “Fake AI crowd, fake comments, bots like. 21k ‘likes for Will Smith?” one viewer wrote. Others were less subtle: “Holy AI… it’s not even a good AI render, you instantly see it’s fake,” said another.
Critics highlighted signs that seemed digitally altered and faces that looked unusual, wondering why the team behind the video would push it out. The video’s reception shows that even a superstar like Will isn’t immune to scrutiny in the age of social media, according to The Sun.
“I just watched the full clip and I can’t BELIEVE someone watched this on his team and said “yeah send it out” people’s faces are melting ?!?! The “we luv you will” signs ???? His ego is so FRAGILE he needs to make fake fans…” added another.
Will Smith’s Desperate Times Calling For Desperate Measures
This isn’t Will’s first brush with fan outrage. Earlier this year, he shared a steamy onstage kiss with Spanish singer India Martinez, prompting backlash due to his marriage to Jada Pinkett Smith, though the couple has been separated for years. Fans were quick to call the moment “inappropriate.”
Of course, viewers also remember the infamous 2022 Oscars incident, when Will slapped Chris Rock after a joke about Jada. Despite the controversy, he went on to win Best Actor for King Richard, showing that even headline-grabbing behavior can coexist with professional success.
Despite the AI crowd chatter and ongoing scrutiny, Will Smith’s tour continues. The singer and actor is still drawing audiences and performing worldwide. Whether fans are genuinely moved or just watching closely for signs of digital trickery, the conversation around his tour keeps him in the headlines.
Will Smith’s new tour promo may have raised eyebrows, but if nothing else, it’s keeping fans talking. Between AI-enhanced audiences, onstage antics, and his larger-than-life persona. It seems the Fresh Prince is still finding ways to make headlines. Whether the applause is real or not.
Nina Franklin 
Sabrina Russell 
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