Director Barry Sonnenfeld has shared a lighthearted anecdote about an unusual incident on the set of Men in Black in 1997, involving Will Smith’s flatulence. According to Sonnenfeld, the crew had to evacuate for three hours after Smith’s fart inside a “hermetically sealed” transforming car during filming.
Sonnenfeld recounted the moment during an appearance on the podcast Let’s Talk Off Camera With Kelly Ripa, explaining that while shooting a scene with Smith and co-star Tommy Lee Jones, the actor apologized, saying, “Oh Jesus, so sorry. Tommy, so sorry. Baz, get the ladder.” Despite Jones reassuring Smith, the situation became more serious as the crew rushed to open the car.
Sonnenfeld humorously noted, “Will Smith is a farter. And you really don’t want to be inside a very small hermetically sealed space with a Will Smith fart.” He added that it’s an experience you’d want to avoid, even in a more open space like the Disney ranch.
Men in Black went on to be a major hit, becoming the third-highest-grossing film of 1997, earning $584 million globally.