He will forever be remembered!
As we reported, on Friday, thousands gathered at the KFC Yum! Center in Louisville, Kentucky to honor the life and legacy of Muhammad Ali. Last week, the famed athelete passed away at 74 after battling a respiratory issue.
Related: Muhammad Ali Gets Liberty Medal!
Will Smith — along with ex-boxers Mike Tyson and Lennox Lewis — served as a pallbearer for the service, and couldn’t help but revere the entire experience as “beautiful.”
The actor told ET Online :
“Every age was out there├óΓé¼┬ª It was beautiful. It was absolutely ├óΓé¼┬ª ‘celebration’ is the right word.”‘
The thespian — who portrayed the boxer in the 2001 film Ali — said that during the ceremony, everyone shared their favorite memories of the activist.
“We all sat around, you know ├óΓé¼ΓÇ¥ Tyson, Lewis, and a lot of Ali’s family and me ├óΓé¼ΓÇ¥ for about an hour├óΓé¼┬ª We all just told the stories and our memories. You know, for me, it’s just humbling to be able to be here with the family in this time of need. He lived the perfect example of how a human being is supposed to live their life. It was beautiful.”
The Olympian’s daughter Laila Ali said her father was always fond of Smith, especially when he starred in his biopic.
“He appreciated the great job that Will Smith did playing him├óΓé¼┬ª My father appreciates the role that Will Smith played.”
The memorial service also featured touching eulogies from Billy Crystal and Bill Clinton.
To see those videos, ch-ch-check them out (below)!
[Image via WENN.]