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Will Smith Promotes 'Concussion'; Plans to Revive Career as a Rapper, Says He Was Just Joking About Running for President

Hopefuls and Will Smith fanatics; hold your horses and hold them tight. It's too bad if you have already printed your campaign signs. The "Independence Day" star is not running for President come 2016 after all.

Smith, a 47-year-old actor, made clarifications on the comments he made prior about him becoming a presidential candidate in the future.

He told CBS News, "If people keep saying all the crazy kinds of stuff they've been saying on the news lately about walls and Muslims, they're going to force me into the political arena. I mean, I gotta be the president. What else would I run for? Come on!"

But when he spoke to ET during the New York premiere of his new film Concussion on Wednesday, Dec. 16, he said, "I was really kind of joking when I said that." He may have been too attached to his role as a Nigerian doctor Bennet Omalu, which may have inspired his political optimism, he added.

He added, "Dr. Omalu has such a positive view of America and the American dream. As an actor, being able to be a part of that and to feel from the outsider's perspective how great this country is, I sort of got inspired as I was looking at the current political landscape. I was inspired to defend the ideals that help build such a beautiful country."

On the upside, even if we will not be seeing Smith rallying around to campaign or attending presidential debates, he is reviving his career as a rapper. It will more than compensate for it, will it not?  He is reuniting with DJ Jazzy Jeff for planned tour dates next year and he admitted that they are getting started.

"Concussion," will be released in the USA on Christmas Day, according to IMDb. It is directed by Peter Landesman and co produced by Ridley Scott, Giannina Facio, Elizabeth Cantillon, Larry Shuman, David Wolthoff. Aside from Smith, it also stars Alec Baldwin, Gugu Mbatha-Raw, Luke Wilson, Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje and others.


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