By now, just about everybody – on the planet – has seen the clip of the most egregious – and totally uncalled for – attack by the actor Will Smith on the comedian Chris Rock. I had zero interest in the Academy Awards this year, as I hadn’t seen a single new movie in 2021. But I did switch over to it right after the incident, to see Questlove receive the award for Best Documentary. A friend of mine texted me a link to an uncensored clip of the attack a little later, and I was totally dumbfounded! Will Smith? Everybody’s smiling, laughing good guy???
The physical assault was unprecedented in Oscar history, but the follow-up obscenity laden screaming was possibly even more disturbing. I’m fully comfortable with the acronym For Unlawful Carnal Knowledge, as I drop a dozen, or more, F-bombs each day. But I’m always cognizant of the company in which I may launch them. Would I ever scream out that word – twice – in anger – in a theater full of people, most of whom I probably don’t know? Knowing full well that the event was being televised around the globe? No! That was sheer madness. And, over a fairly innocuous joke about his wife’s – Jada Pinkett Smith’s – very public appearance! Celebrities are in the public eye, and just about everything said to them, and about them, is considered fair game. They are supposed to be thick skinned. For Will to respond with both violence and obscenity was utterly disgusting. And, for me, it totally destroyed his good guy persona.
Some people have tried to spin it as Will being a “man”, defending his wife’s honor. That is complete nonsense, as Chris Rock was just making a simple joke. And, Will Smith can even be seen laughing at it, until he caught Jada’s eye roll and dirty look. Other’s have tried to say that the G.I. Jane II joke somehow “crossed the line”. If Jada had been going through chemo-therapy, for cancer, then that would be cause for saying it crossed the line. But she has Alopecia. It’s an unfortunate hair loss condition, but it’s not physically painful, and it’s certainly not fatal. And, in some cases, the hair can grow back. It affects about 2% of people during some time of their life. We had a neighborhood kid who lost both of his eyebrows from it. He’s fine today. And Jada Pinkett Smith – to her credit – went public with it. And, despite her shaved head she is still a very attractive woman. Trying to say the joke was “tasteless” or “offensive” is a just way to excuse Will Smith’s inexcusable behavior. That kind of violence and obscenity cannot be justified.
Another complaint that I have goes to how the media continues to report this. And, this might sound petty, or picky, but Will did not say: “Keep my wife’s name out OF your FFFF’n mouth!” He very specifically said “Keep my wife’s name out yo FFFF’n mouth!” Both times. No “of” and “yo”, not “your”. I understand that Will Smith was born and raised in West Philadelphia, possibly in a tough neighborhood. But did he consciously choose to speak this way – as a way to make himself sound even MORE threatening – or was this a case of: you can take some folks out of the street, but you can’t take the street out of some folks? We all know he can speak “the King’s English” when he has/wants to. Just report it accurately, media!
I have to commend Chris Rock. First for taking the shot, from a bigger guy, and not going down. Second for his quick recovery to make light of the situation, and continue with his presentation. And, third for telling the police that he wouldn’t be pressing charges. Because he very easily – and rightfully – could have pressed charges. My son has had some personal – public – dealings with Chris Rock, and apparently he is NOT a very friendly individual. But that can be the case with so many celebrities. Everybody has their shortcomings.
Will Smith apologized to Chris Rock, and I guess to the rest of us who saw the assault, but it was only on Instagram. And, as the old saying goes: a day late and a dollar short! He had the opportunity to apologize during his acceptance speech on Sunday night, but instead gave a half-baked, self-serving apology to the Academy and his fellow nominees. There’s a lot of speculation that this apology was mainly an attempt to repair his reputation, as public sentiment was trending decidedly against him. He has some more work to do, aside from this apology. And, he could face some kind of punishment from the Academy.
My wife has always adored Will Smith, and feels very bad for him. I’m a much more casual fan, but this whole incident makes me wonder about the more general rise in violence, all around the world. With all this political polarization causing hurtful, hateful vitriol, and this unnecessary war in Ukraine, and countries like China, Myanmar, and Israel perpetrating various forms of apartheidism/genocide, and people assaulting others in the streets, and on the subways, because they’re either Asian or Jewish, etc., etc., I have to wonder if Will Smith’s actions are just a symptom of some kind of universal madness that is taking over the world! Can we ever return to civility? Be well and do good, friends. — Your Uncle Rave
Unclerave's Wordy Weblog 
Well written; short and clear!
It is disgusting. And I didn’t think this before but now I do, the only fitting punishment will be to withdraw his Oscar and give it to someone else. Anything else shows that he can get away with stuff that his fans definitely could not.
I’m also sorry that it involves two black men in a breakthrough moment that, for all it matters, now became beside the point.
Why are we paying attention to this, though? Only to show how twisted our sensibilities are these days, and how we’re being ‘colonized’ by the powerful interests finding the media.
Thank you, sir or madam. — YUR
I don’t want to put words into your mouth, Wes. Or edit something that could go either way, but did you mean FUNDING the media? I’ve long disliked what I refer to as the Corporate Media, mainly because they are SO selective in what they “report” to us, and the things they do “report” to us are either slanted, or semi-subtly intended to keep us both scared and divided. Huge corporations both own and/or fund our corporate media, so we are essentially their captives, similar to people in Russia and China, and other nations that we have deemed “repressive”.
But, like my closing paragraph says, I think that there is something . . . unseen – possibly in the air, or maybe just psychically induced by too much “social” media – that is making us all more than a bit mad! Sadly, I’ve seen it in myself! I’ve always had a quick temper, but fortunately it passes just as quick. But lately the smallest of things will send me into a kind of rage. I haven’t lashed out against anyone . . . yet. But it scares me just the same. Is climate change partially responsible for our universal rage? Something in the alignment of the planets and stars? Do the elites/haves just want the rest of us to kill each other off? And, how far past 8 Billion people will earth go before it effectively shuts down?
— YUR
Will Smith, Chris Rock, and Jada !
There’s more going on with Will Smith’s slap to Chris Rock than meets the eye.
Will and Chris are part of a big gang of young black American men in show business who all know each other quite well. You may even say that most of them are “buddies” of sorts.
Chris Rock’s comments would not have ordinarily been out-of-order. That’s the way these young black actors/comedians, mostly men, carry-on with each other when they get together.
Will’s attack on Chris wasn’t about Chris’s joke about Jada’s non-hair; it was about Jada’s reaction to the comment.
Will laughed initially right along with others, but when he saw Jada’s discontent after the comment, he suddenly felt the need to do something: Something BIG.
According to some celebrity gossip circles, Will and Jada are “known” to not have a monogamous marriage/relationship. Of course, I am not privileged to know any of this, but people who follow celebrity gossip have been commenting on it.
If the gossip is true, it started with Will, and since Jada couldn’t stop him, she may have decided, “What’s good for the Goose is good for the Gander”.
Whatever Jada is, or is not, doing, she’s made no attempt to conceal it.
I have concluded that Will knows he is on thin ice with Jada. So, when he observed her discontent over Chris’ joke, will decided he needed to make a big show for her benefit.
And, that’s exactly what that was about: A big “show” of standing up for “His Woman” at America’s biggest show, The Oscars.
Of course, my observations and analyses of these events could be all wrong.
But, if Will and Jada finally split up in the near future as I suspect, then we’ll all know the “real” reason Will’s behavior at the Oscars.
Unc asks:…”Is climate change partially responsible for our universal rage?…”
If climate change is part of it, it’ll be very tiny. But, the world does seem to have a rising climate of fear from many sources.
The World has gradually gotten smaller over the last two centuries allowing us to be become more aware of dangers around the planet that can kill us at any time.
Notice the gun shootings that we here about in some cities over something senseless. I can give you a list of some here in Atlanta since the New Year.
That’s just one city. The same has been happening in big cities of Michigan, Minnesota, California; we don’t here about the small cities.
The news today is reporting the proseccution of people who plotted to kidnap the governor of Michagan. Since when in our history has a state governor been kidnap.
There is an element of madness in the air here and around the world. I just hope I’m not contributing to it.
UR,
The planet Earth/Universal Flow can handle/adjust to the 8+ billion people,…
One way or the other^^…….
Note of interest??¿:
In my circle the thought goes that a major nuclear war would eliminate no more than 80%
of the population….Many believe a big time hit by a large Comet could be the end of Earth as we know it!!!
Also; I have a strong sense that Will Smith has
more serious issues than “Bitch Slapping” a much smaller opponent??¿♡
77 Sunset Strip,,,Oh Yea £..Byyy…….k
Don’t deign to minimize the effects of global warming, lwc. It is affecting us all in various ways, for some worse than others, but we all feel the ripple effects. And, there doesn’t seem to be much – if any – relief in sight. When man DOES make a serious effort we can affect positive change. The introduction of catalytic converters on automobiles, and scrubbers on power plants, reduced the levels of nitrogen oxides and sulfur dioxide, that was causing devastating acid rain. To the point that it’s not the major threat that it used to be. When the Montreal Protocol banned the production CFCs and halons the thinning ozone layer, which was thinning at alarming rates, eventually began to recover, and is on track to get back to pre-1980 levels. Eliminating the insecticide DDT paved the way for a number of endangered birds, including the American Eagle, to surviving and thriving levels. So, when the world affects less destructive behaviors we can have a positive effect on the global environment. Solutions have been out there, but powerful entities have resisted the necessary changes, bringing us to – and some say past – the tipping point. It very well could be too late, but that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t reduce what we’ve been doing for far too long, and adopt cleaner alternatives.
The madness IS worldwide, lwc. And, as the old saying goes: if you’re not part of the solution, then you are a part of the problem. Pretending that there are no problems – so people won’t be fearful? – is a recipe for disaster.
— YUR
I’ve heard of their poly-amorous arrangement too, lwc. We both already agree that it wasn’t the joke that set Will off, but Jada’s look afterwards. The so-called acceptance of their *mutual* infidelities could very well have played a part in Will’s actions. Earlier in the show a woman presenter – possibly one of the hosts – made a joke about Will joining all the eligible men on stage. He declined and laughed that off, but THAT could have been what lit Jada’s fuse! They may have exchanged some words after that. Maybe even Jada questioning Will’s manhood!
But the whys are almost irrelevant. Will simply crossed the lines of civility, not just once but twice. He had the opportunity to make amends during his acceptance speech, but he squandered that, then went on to mugging for the cameras/press with his Oscar trophy, and partying like he was the conquering hero at various after parties. His later apologies rang hollow.
He has a lot of repairing to do.
— YUR
Unc,
I missed the part about the woman presenter inviting Will to join to join the “elligible men” on stage. That may have been the “flint” waiting for a “match” to strike.
You may have pointed out the “real” impetus for his ragged, and unexpected, behavior.
Very interesting.
Look at the Will Smith case. Provocation used to be a defence for assault, We have now become so feminized, it is not.
https://www.aswanidatt.com/defence-provocation/
https://sherlawyers.com.au/provocation-defence/
https://www.legalmatch.com/law-library/article/provocation-defense.html
https://www.law.cornell.edu/wex/provocation
Thanks for researching and coming up with these legal sites, Lem.
I doubt that any jury would find the single, fairly innocuous joke – about Jada’s shaved head – to be considered valid provocation for Will’s assault. Especially, when you consider that Will actually laughed at it, until he saw Jada’s reaction.
But there are a few things about the way this continues to be reported that kind of irk me.
#1 is so many are saying that Will “charged”, or “rushed” the stage! Making this sound like he was in some kind of blind rage, or something. From every replay I’ve watched Will very calmly WALKED up to Chris. This is one reason why Chris’ guard was down, and why he was surprised by the blow.
#2 is that they’re acting as the slap was the ONLY assault. As though Will Smith’s screaming – twice – “Keep my wife’s name out yo fn<k!ng mouth!" was not a verbal threat/assault! In my estimation those words, and that tone, WERE a second assault. And, to have the temerity to use that kind of language, in a theater full of 2500 people, AND on international television, seems almost insane to me. Who the heck does that???
And #3 as I mentioned already in my original post, why are they reporting it as though he said: Keep my wife's name out OF YOUR fn<k!ng mouth! When he clearly said twice: "Keep my wife's name out YO fn<k!ng mouth!" There was no "OF", and it was the street “YO”, and not “YOUR”. Are they afraid if they report it accurately they’ll – somehow – be accused of being “racist”? It is what it is. There is no shame in reporting it as it actually transpired.
Jada came out publicly – in 2018 – that she suffers from alopecia. It’s not pleasant, but far from fatal, and she had the option of wearing wigs, if she was SO concerned about the way she looked. But she essentially embraced the alopecia by deciding to shave her head, instead of trying to cover it up. And, her daughter Willow also shaved her head, in a kind of solidarity for her mom. If you are that comfortable with going the shaved head route then a silly little joke should not bother you.
Will just Ffed up BIG time!
— YUR
I didn’t see it – LIVE – either, lwc. I just saw it after the fact, and during the next day or two. Regardless, I don’t consider any of it justifiable provocation. (See my reply to Lem.)
— YUR
Jada is almost always cool, calm, and collected. I suspect her basic reaction amounted to rolling her eyes.
That’s the Jada I would ecognize.