Will Smith mistakes the word 'niggle' for a racial slur during workout with Australian trainer

Actor Will Smith has shared a light-hearted video of the moment he realised the word ‘niggle’ isn’t actually a racial slur – even though it sounds like one.

The U.S. actor, 52, was doing a workout at home last month when his Australian personal trainer asked if he had any ‘niggles’.

This is a common word in Britain and Australia which refers to any slight pain or discomfort, and usually relates to a person’s body. 

Oops! Actor Will Smith hilariously mistook a common Aussie slang word for a racial slur as he worked out with his trainer with him misunderstanding the word ‘niggle’ which he shared to Instagram last month 

The video began with Smith, who recently revealed he’d gained weight during Covid lockdown, asking his embarrassed-looking trainer to repeat what he’d just said. 

‘What’s it called? What do I feel in my knee? This is what he asked the first time we worked out,’ the Fresh Prince of Bel-Air star said as he stepped on the treadmill. 

‘I’m not saying it!’ the trainer replied sheepishly. 

‘It’s Australian. You’re allowed to say it. What do I feel?’ Will added, making it clear he wasn’t offended by the word, which has no racist connotations.

Come on! ‘What’s it called? What do I feel in my knee? This is what he asked the first time we worked out,’ a clearly bemused Fresh Prince asked his trainer

‘A niggle,’ the trainer said, to which Smith jokingly snapped back: ‘A what?!’ 

‘He asked me if I was working work if I had any “niggles”. I was like,’ he continued, pulling a confused facial expression. 

‘Yeah, I got three: Trey, Jaden, Willow. But I don’t think that’s the right way to ask me about my family,’ he then said, referring to his children.

Spirited: ‘It’s Australian. You’re allowed to say it. What do I feel?’ Will said, teasing the trainer in a light-hearted exchange as he stepped on the treadmill.

The two men then laughed off the cultural miscommunication. 

Smith made headlines last month after posting a shirtless image of himself and declared he was in the ‘worst shape of my life’ after months of lockdown.

He took to Instagram to share a Boomerang clip while wearing boxer shorts.

‘Laugh:   ‘He asked me if I was working work if I had any niggles. I was like [looking at him weirdly],’ Will continued. ‘Yeah, I got three: Trey, Jaden, Willow. But I don’t think that’s the right way to ask me about my family’

He revealed he was about to start his fitness journey, which he’ll document for a  YouTube documentary series.

‘This is the body that carried me through an entire pandemic and countless days grazing thru the pantry,’ Smith said. 

‘I love this body, but I wanna FEEL better. No more midnight muffins… this is it!’   

‘No more midnight muffins’: Will Smith took to Instagram on Tuesday morning to share a Boomerang snap of himself in nothing but a pair of tiny black boxer briefs and revealed his fitness journey will all be documented for an upcoming YouTube project

Just a day earlier Will had Instagram buzzing shared a snap of himself in his underwear as he told how he had gained weight in recent months.

The film star is used to being in excellent shape for his roles in action films like I, Robot and I Am Legend.

Will shared a photo of himself sporting dark shorts and an open hoodie that showed his stomach and chest.