The moment in 2005’s rom-com Hitch in which actor Will Smith experiences allergy symptoms after eating shellfish made everyone laugh out loud. Smith, who plays Hitchcock, develops a peculiar cough and swelling on the right side of his face in this scene. Smith’s easy charisma and great timing added to the comedy value of the scene.
While some thought the comedic scene was a little over the top, the actor admitted that it was inspired by a real allergic response he had in the past.
The Real-Life Situation
In December 2017, when appearing on Wired’s ‘Auto-Complete Interview,’ a show where celebrities answer the web’s most frequently asked questions, the Hollywood legend addressed the issue.
“What is Will Smith allergic to in Hitch?” Smith was asked. “His dedication,” Smith joked in response. Exactly!”
He later said that the scene had a backstory, and that “that allergic reaction was based on an actual allergic reaction I had.” However, the actor did not provide the details of the true story. As a result, he did not divulge when, when, or how the incident occurred, save from a vague allusion.
In September 2014, he told BBC Entertainment about an occurrence that he linked to his allergic reaction in the film. When he was 11 years old, he remembered going on a date with a girl named Stacy Brooks. Things were heating up until he was bitten by a bee, and his face swelled up much like in the film. Brooks was terrified of his swollen eyes, and she wanted him to leave her alone, even though he tried to console her by saying, “But I wove you!”
Smith was allergic to shellfish in the film
Will Smith developed a shellfish allergy after eating shellfish supplied to him by Eva Mendes’ character at a cooking class in the film Hitch.
In addition, the shellfish allergy is a real condition. Someone allergic to shellfish experiences symptoms within minutes to an hour of eating shellfish, according to the Mayo Clinic.
Dizziness, lightheadedness, diarrhea, vomiting, difficulty breathing, and swelling of the lips, face, tongue, and neck are all symptoms.
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Smith’s film ‘Hitch’ was a box office hit
In addition to Smith, Eva Mendes, Kevin James, and Amber Valletta starred in the 2005 romantic comedy Hitch. Mendes played Sara Melas, a gossip journalist, while Smith played Alex ‘Hitch’ Hitchens, a professional love-guru who earns his living teaching men how to seduce women. Hitchcock is enamored by Melas in the film and tries all of his amorous ways on her, but none of them seem to succeed.
The Smith-Mendes starrer grossed $371.6 million at the box office on a $70 million budget.
