Kaylah Walton
Barry Sonnenfeld, the director of “Men in Black,” recently shared a funny and surprising incident from the movie’s set. He revealed that production was halted for almost three hours due to an amusing situation triggered by Will Smith’s fart.
The film significantly boosted Smith’s career, earning $584 million globally and ranking as the third highest-grossing movie of that year. Following his success in “Independence Day,” “Men in Black” further established Smith as a global superstar.
A Comedic Mishap
This incident occurred while they were filming an action-packed scene featuring Smith and Jones in a futuristic car navigating through chaotic traffic.
To create an authentic feeling for this intense sequence, the actors were enclosed in a pod designed to mimic the car’s high-speed movements. Sonnenfeld described the pod as “hermetically sealed,” meaning it was completely airtight around Smith and Jones.
During this particular scene, Smith accidentally let out a loud fart that was so overwhelming that the entire cast and crew had to leave the set for several hours. The tight, sealed environment only intensified the situation, requiring the production team to vacate while the pod was aired out.
Sonnenfeld recounted, “There are locks to prevent it from opening and falling. I say, ‘Roll camera.’ And suddenly I hear Will Smith exclaim, ‘Oh Jesus, so sorry. Tommy, my bad. Baz, get the ladder.’ Meanwhile, you can hear Tommy say, ‘That’s okay, Will. No problem at all.’
Then came the chase to get the ladder over. As Tommy quickly got down the ladder, what happened was clear: Will Smith is prone to farting.
It’s just how some people are. Trust me, being in a small, sealed space when Will Smith lets one loose is not a great idea, not even sitting next to him at the Disney ranch.
In the end, “We had to clear the stage for about three hours. It’s quite a feat! But he’s a great guy; he just happens to fart. Some people do, and some don’t.”
