‘We’re still on Chris Rock’s side’—Fans chuckle at first look of Will Smith as Neo in his new music video ‘BEAUTIFUL SCARS’

Apple Music and YouTube Music - Source: Getty
Apple Music and YouTube Music - Source: Getty

Will Smith has officially entered the Matrix—well, sort of. The Hollywood star surprised fans by dropping a teaser for his upcoming music video Beautiful Scars, in which he’s fully decked out as Neo. Yes, that Neo. Long black trench coat, tiny sunglasses, slow-motion action the whole deal.

But before anyone starts thinking this is some sort of reboot, let’s clear the air: it’s just for the music video. And judging by the internet’s reaction, people are both amused and slightly relieved. Will Smith as Neo? In 2024? That’s a lot to process.


Will Smith’s ‘BEAUTIFUL SCARS’ music video brings the matrix to life


The first look at Will Smith channeling Keanu Reeves’ iconic Matrix character dropped on social media, and the internet wasted no time reacting. The video, seemingly a high-budget production, has Smith embracing the cyberpunk aesthetic complete with bullet-dodging action sequences.

But let’s be honest, the biggest takeaway wasn’t the visuals. It was the collective sigh of relief from fans realizing this wasn’t an actual Matrix reboot. Given Hollywood’s love for reviving old franchises, you can’t blame people for being momentarily worried.

The moment the clip hit social media, the internet did what it does best—roasted it mercilessly. Some fans took one look at Smith’s Matrix-inspired makeover and immediately brought up The Slap That Must Not Be Named.

“We still on Chris Rock’s side,” one person commented as if Will Smith had just dodged bullets in slow motion only to get hit with a reminder of the Oscars incident.

Others were quick to shut down any panic about a potential Matrix reboot.

“Can’t believe people thought this was gonna be an actual reboot lol,” someone wrote, clearly feeling superior to those who momentarily feared Hollywood had lost its mind yet again.

You could almost hear the collective sigh of relief across the internet—no one wanted to live in a world where Will Smith, and not Keanu Reeves, was leading the resistance against the machines.

Then came the brutal honesty. “Is he even relevant anymore? 🤣” one fan asked as if Will Smith hadn’t just re-entered the public consciousness with his surprise return.

It was the kind of comment that makes you feel bad for the guy, but also… not entirely inaccurate.

And let’s not forget the age-related jabs. “Will Smith doesn’t want to age, I see,” one fan observed.

Fair point. The man has somehow managed to look 40 for the past 20 years. Maybe this whole Matrix thing isn’t just an aesthetic choice maybe he’s actually trying to hack time itself.

For some, the biggest relief was that this whole thing was just a music video. “Thank god it’s just for a music video,” someone wrote as if they had narrowly escaped a cinematic disaster.

Because let’s be real Hollywood’s recent attempts at reviving old franchises haven’t exactly been inspiring.

And then there was the final, collective shrug from the internet: “Well, at least it wasn’t a Super Bowl ad.”

Because, really, if there’s one thing worse than unnecessary reboots, it’s celebrities awkwardly squeezing themselves into nostalgic roles for a car insurance commercial.

Despite the buzz, not everyone is convinced that this marks some grand return for Will Smith. The reactions are a mix of nostalgia, skepticism, and Twitter-level roasting, proving once again that the internet holds absolutely nothing sacred.

That said, love it or hate it, one thing is certain: Smith still knows how to get people talking. And in today’s viral-driven world, that’s half the battle won.

Now, the only question is will Keanu Reeves acknowledge this? Or will he just put on his sunglasses and pretend it never happened?

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Edited by Apoorva Jujjavarapu
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