Will Smith’s Farts Were So Powerful That ‘Men in Black’ Set Had to Evacuate ‘for About 3 Hours,’ Says Barry Sonnenfeld

In a recent interview on Kelly Ripa’s Let’s Talk Off Camera podcast, Men in Black director Barry Sonnenfeld revealed an unexpected and humorous behind-the-scenes story involving Will Smith‘s potent flatulence, which led to a set evacuation. Sonnenfeld recalled a moment while filming a scene with Smith and Tommy Lee Jones inside a futuristic car that was sealed off for the shot. As the cameras rolled, Smith apparently let out a particularly strong fart, prompting him to apologize profusely to Jones. “Oh, Jesus. So sorry. Tommy, so sorry. Baz, get the ladder!” Smith exclaimed, according to the director.

Jones, known for his calm and stoic demeanor, reacted with trademark coolness, telling Smith not to worry, though the situation escalated quickly. “Will Smith is a farter,” Sonnenfeld noted with a laugh. The incident was so intense that the cast and crew had to clear the area for three hours. The director quipped, “You really don’t wanna be inside a very small hermetically sealed space with a Will Smith fart.” Even after they evacuated, Sonnenfeld recalled how Jones quickly exited the car as soon as the ladder arrived, leaving no doubt about the severity of the situation.

Sonnenfeld added more playful insight about Smith’s eating habits, suggesting a possible culprit for the gas. “We pretty much had boiled chicken and sliced tomatoes for five days,” he said, after staying at Smith’s house in Calabasas. This wasn’t the first or last time Sonnenfeld worked with Smith, despite the gassy incident. The duo teamed up for Wild Wild West and returned for two Men in Black sequels. As the director humorously concluded, Smith’s farting habits didn’t interfere with their long-standing professional relationship.