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It was October when he jetted into the UAE, ascending the Burj Khalifa and journeying into the desert in a series of picturesque snaps. And now, Will Smith has revealed exactly just what he was doing in Dubai last year.
The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air actor on Wednesday premiered the first episode in his new online series, Will Smith's Bucket List. The six-episode Facebook Watch show sees the star tackle some of the world's most thrilling adventures to celebrate his 50th birthday, which fell on September 25, 2018.
In the debut 22-minute episode, Smith brings his family to the UAE, with the aim of ticking skydiving off his bucket list.
"My wife made the mistake of telling me she would do whatever I wanted for my birthday," the actor says in the show. "And then I told her what I wanted for for her to skydive with me."
"This is a horrible plan, just know that," interjects his wife, Jada Pinkett-Smith. The couple were also joined by son Jaden, Pinkett-Smith's parents Gammy and Rodney, and Smith's son Trey on the trip, with the entire family taking to the skies during the episode, which already has more than 15 million views.
Before heading to Skydive Dubai, the I am Legend star took his relatives into Dubai's desert, where they experienced dune-bashing and falconry - and the actor got a little stuck in the sandy climes in his ATV.
Smith also ventured to the top floors of the Burj Khalifa, where he revealed the towering structure embodied what "he really loves about this place".
"They don’t just put up anything," said the actor. "When they do it, it has to be spectacular, it has to inspire wonder and awe. It’s the only place on Earth I would bring my wife to skydive for the first time."
Pinkett-Smith revealed her fear of heights ahead of the jump, telling the camera: "This was a really test of the years of spiritual work I’ve been doing, and how much faith I have in that source higher than me."
The actress added: "I’m afraid of heights, I don’t like flying, and I never ever would think of jumping of a plane as being fun, but because he asked me to, I couldn’t tell him no."
Pinkett-Smith indeed followed through on her promise, leaping out into the air above the Palm Jumeirah from 15,000 feet, as did the rest of the family.
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However, the exhilarating adventure ended with a trip to the hospital after Smith's father-in-law, Rodney, suffered a mild heart attack on the descent. He was later released from hospital in good health, jokingly asking: "Does [a skydive] count if you don't remember it?"
"We all saw you land, so you did it," assured grandson Jaden.
Will Smith's Bucket List, which will release new episodes on Wednesdays, will also show the star swimming with sharks, running a half-marathon, trying a Bollywood dance routine, and performing a stand-up comedy routine.
Smith will also revisit the UAE in another episode, where he drives a Formula One car in Abu Dhabi, with the help of champion racer Lewis Hamilton.