Photo Credit: Legend Production Company

During a break after the incident, Denzel Washington, who ascended to the peak of the acting profession years before with ten Oscar nominations and two wins, approached Will Smith. Later, when he was actually invited to the stage, Smith shared what Denzel told him. 

"At your highest moment, be careful; that's when the devil comes for you."   

Denzel’s observation is one of the sharpest insights on success, leadership, and human frailty I have ever heard or read. The devil's appearance has disrupted many a life during a time of triumph. Because what he brings with him are the demons who lord over our actions and who we work to keep under control. Anxiety, anger, love, hate, hubris, insecurity, guilt, sadness, jealousy, lust, greed, pride, and fear, to name a few. We all have a demon or two, or three, who follow us around. 

They appear in many forms. An offhand comment or sarcastic remark, an email sent when it should have moved from draft to trash, a hasty decision, smile, or sneer. An unwanted approach, a hasty retreat, or a slap. We spend most of our lives focused on keeping it together so we can advance, achieve, win, or at the very least survive. Then one day, it happens. The devil rears its ugly head while ours is turned away. Often when we’re distracted or blinded by the bright light of success. The glow emitted from trappings like position, title, power, or prestige. A moment in the sun and the warm feeling of having made it. The buzz of energy that comes with victory and adulation. At these moments, when we don't want to think of anything else, is when we should be most alert. Instead, vigilance falls prey to invincibility.

Stories of kings and queens, presidents and prime ministers, generals and diplomats, who failed to manage the devil, litter the pages of history. We've seen business leaders, celebrities, athletes, and influencers, some, for just the briefest moment, allow themselves to forget that fame and feat don’t immunize you from failure. Weakened by the weight of their achievements, they stumbled. We also see it in the people around us and, if we're honest, in ourselves. 

In the late 1960s and early 1970s, comedian Flip Wilson rose to fame. In addition to stand-up, Flip was a master at sketch comedy. One of the recurring characters he portrayed was Geraldine Jones, a hip, fresh-talking woman. Geraldine would tell a story about doing something outrageous and then explain away her action by declaring, “The devil made me do it.”  Audiences would react with laughter and applause. The line became a national catchphrase. 

Will Smith could have repeated the line. Save for the chuckles from the few who made the connection; his audience would not have reacted with laughter and applause.   The explanation would have been accurate though. Whatever demons Will has tried to keep at bay throughout his life, the devil showed up with a handful. And they got him at his highest moment.   

As Smith tried to explain himself, the camera caught Denzel looking on. Maybe he was thinking about Will’s effort to recover. Or maybe about the times the devil came for him. Stopping to think might have saved Will when the devil came and sat next to him. But Denzel's advice came too late. For the rest of us, it's a sharp reminder. 

No matter how far you go or how high you climb, the devil will find you. And he's bringing friends.