Barry Sonnenfeld reveals Will Smith once brought Men In Black to a halt

Today, in “David Schwimmer Would never” News: Director Barry Sonnenfeld has revealed that star Will Smith once stopped filming Men in Black by unleashing a bit of “Noisy Cricket” on the film’s set itself. Was that too weird? Maybe that was too weird: the man farted, even though Tommy Lee Jones could smell it. Can you even imagine what that would feel like?

Per vultureSonnenfeld appeared on Kelly Ripa Let's talk off camera Podcast promoting his new memoir Best possible place, worst possible timewhen he decided to bombard Smith from orbit with this little anecdote. About the scene in which Smith and Jones' characters sit in their upside-down car in the 1997 blockbuster – although the car apparently had to be sealed, which is relevant for reasons that are probably already teetering on the verge of the obvious – Sonnenfeld says, he heard the following conversation over the production radios: “Oh my God, I’m so sorry. Tommy, I'm so sorry. “Baz, get the ladder.” And you hear Tommy say, “That's okay, Will.” Don't worry, Will. Don't worry, Will.'”

(And can we please take a moment to reflect on the utter grace of Tommy Lee Jones? We know he has a reputation for sanctioning the buffoonery of others – he just won't do it – but what kindness in a moment of his co-star's arguably profound vulnerability.)

Anyway, Sonnenfeld said, “What's happened is that Will Smith is a farter.” It's just that some people do that, and you really don't want to deal with a Will Smith fart in a very small one , stay in a hermetically sealed room. You don't even want to sit next to him at the Disney ranch.” This next part sounds wild, but Sonnenfeld then claimed that the stage had to be “evacuated” for three hours before filming could resume, which is what it appears to be aggressive in a world where there are small fans. And look: the history of farting on Hollywood sets is long and storied; These stories can take you down a real rabbit hole, although we would recommend bringing an external oxygen supply in this case. But usually they are told by the subjects himselfoften as a humanizing detail with co-stars rather than as part of a character assassination nearly two decades later. Anyway, there you have it: the story of the most shocking and sensational thing Will Smith ever did in Hollywood; No other events need apply.