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Will Smith Did a Bad, Bad Thing
Substack ^ | March 28, 2022 | Kareem Abdul-Jabbar

Posted on 03/29/2022 2:11:41 PM PDT by grundle

Slapping Chris Rock was also a blow to men, women, the entertainment industry, and the Black community.

When Will Smith stormed onto the Oscar stage to strike Chris Rock for making a joke about his wife’s short hair, he did a lot more damage than just to Rock’s face. With a single petulant blow, he advocated violence, diminished women, insulted the entertainment industry, and perpetuated stereotypes about the Black community.

That’s a lot to unpack. Let’s start with the facts: Rock made a reference to Smith’s wife, Jada Pinkett Smith, as looking like Demi Moore in GI Jane, in which Moore had shaved her head. Jada Pinkett Smith suffers from alopecia, which causes hair loss. Ok, I can see where the Smiths might not have found that joke funny. But Hollywood awards shows are traditionally a venue where much worse things have been said about celebrities as a means of downplaying the fact that it’s basically a gathering of multimillionaires giving each other awards to boost business so they can make even more money.

The Smiths could have reacted by politely laughing along with the joke or by glowering angrily at Rock. Instead, Smith felt the need to get up in front of his industry peers and millions of people around the world, hit another man, then return to his seat to bellow: “Keep my wife's name out of your fucking mouth.” Twice.

Some have romanticized Smith’s actions as that of a loving husband defending his wife. Comedian Tiffany Haddish, who starred in the movie Girls Trip with Pinkett Smith, praised Smith’s actions: “[F]or me, it was the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen because it made me believe that there are still men out there that love and care about their women, their wives.”

Actually, it was the opposite. Smith’s slap was also a slap to women. If Rock had physically attacked Pinkett Smith, Smith’s intervention would have been welcome. Or if he’d remained in his seat and yelled his post-slap threat, that would have been unnecessary, but understandable. But by hitting Rock, he announced that his wife was incapable of defending herself—against words. From everything I’d seen of Pinkett Smith over the years, she’s a very capable, tough, smart woman who can single-handedly take on a lame joke at the Academy Awards show.

This patronizing, paternal attitude infantilizes women and reduces them to helpless damsels needing a Big Strong Man to defend their honor least they swoon from the vapors. If he was really doing it for his wife, and not his own need to prove himself, he might have thought about the negative attention this brought on them, much harsher than the benign joke. That would have been truly defending and respecting her. This “women need men to defend them” is the same justification currently being proclaimed by conservatives passing laws to restrict abortion and the LGBTQ+ community.

Worse than the slap was Smith’s tearful, self-serving acceptance speech in which he rambled on about all the women in the movie King Richard that he’s protected. Those who protect don’t brag about it in front of 15 million people. They just do it and shut up. You don’t do it as a movie promotion claiming how you’re like the character you just won an award portraying. By using these women to virtue signal, he was in fact exploiting them to benefit himself. But, of course, the speech was about justifying his violence. Apparently, so many people need Smith’s protection that occasionally it gets too much and someone needs to be smacked.

What is the legacy of Smith’s violence? He’s brought back the Toxic Bro ideal of embracing Kobra Kai teachings of “might makes right” and “talk is for losers.” Let’s not forget that this macho John Wayne philosophy was expressed in two movies in which Wayne spanked grown women to teach them a lesson. Young boys—especially Black boys—watching their movie idol not just hit another man over a joke, but then justify it as him being a superhero-like protector, are now much more prone to follow in his childish footsteps. Perhaps the saddest confirmation of this is the tweet from Smith’s child Jaden: “And That’s How We Do It.”

The Black community also takes a direct hit from Smith. One of the main talking points from those supporting the systemic racism in America is characterizing Blacks as more prone to violence and less able to control their emotions. Smith just gave comfort to the enemy by providing them with the perfect optics they were dreaming of. Fox News host Jeanine Pirro wasted no time going full-metal jacket racist by declaring the Oscars are “not the hood.” What would she have said if Brad Pitt slapped Ricky Gervais? This isn’t Rodeo Drive? Many will be reinvigorated to continue their campaign to marginalize African Americans and others through voter suppression campaign.

As for the damage to show business, Smith’s violence is an implied threat to all comedians who now have to worry that an edgy or insulting joke might be met with violence. Good thing Don Rickles, Bill Burr, or Ricky Gervais weren’t there. As comedian Kathy Griffin tweeted: “Now we all have to worry about who wants to be the next Will Smith in comedy clubs and theaters.”

The one bright note is that Chris Rock, clearly stunned, managed to handle the moment with grace and maturity. If only Smith’s acceptance speech had shown similar grace and maturity—and included, instead of self-aggrandizing excuses, a heartfelt apology to Rock.

I met Will Smith when I appeared on Fresh Prince of Bel-Air 28 years ago. And I’ve been to his house. I like him. He’s charming, sincere, and funny. I’m also a big fan of his movies. He’s an accomplished and dedicated actor who deserves the professional accolades he’s received. But it will be difficult to watch the next movie without remembering this sad performance.

I don’t want to see him punished or ostracized because of this one, albeit a big one, mistake. I just want this to be a cautionary tale for others not to romanticize or glorify bad behavior. And I want Smith to be the man who really protects others—by admitting the harm he’s done to others.

Update: Since this article was first published, Will Smith has issued an apology to Chris Rock, the Academy, and the audience. In part, he posted:

“Violence in all of its forms is poisonous and destructive. My behavior at last night’s Academy Awards was unacceptable and inexcusable. Jokes at my expense are part of the job, but a joke about Jada’s medical condition was too much for me to bear and I reacted emotionally,” Smith wrote. “I would like to publicly apologize to you, Chris. I was out of line and I was wrong. I am embarrassed and my actions were not indicative of the man I want to be. There is no place for violence in a world of love and kindness.”


TOPICS: Miscellaneous
KEYWORDS: hollywood; lualcindorstrikes; meneboringaperson; oscars; oscarslap
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To: grundle

Oh, if cream o’ wheat says so.............


21 posted on 03/29/2022 2:24:56 PM PDT by rktman (Destroy America from within? Check! WTH? Enlisted USN 1967 to end up with this? 😕)
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To: adorno

All the Millennials out there: “Who the F is GI Jane?”


22 posted on 03/29/2022 2:25:55 PM PDT by ponygirl (An Appeal to Heaven )
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To: All

Chris Rock hasn’t been funny for at least 10 years. Good thing someone finally slapped him, maybe he will get some better material than a GI JANE joke.


23 posted on 03/29/2022 2:26:13 PM PDT by escapefromboston (Free Chauvin)
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To: grundle

Celebrity on celebrity violence needs to be repeated at many more awards shows. Not just slaps, but full on punches. Not just men on men, but women on women and trans on women.

For any number of reasons. For using the wrong words, and for possibly thinking the wrong thoughts. Of course, at first it should happen in an effort to cancel someone; but then it should be because someone tried to cancel someone else.

Then in the final stage, celebrities should *hire* goons to fight other celebrities’ goons.


24 posted on 03/29/2022 2:26:42 PM PDT by yefragetuwrabrumuy ("Oh bother", said Pooh as he chambered his last round.)
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To: grundle

Ditch the bitch


25 posted on 03/29/2022 2:28:31 PM PDT by Az Joe ("Scratch a Liberal, and a Fascist bleeds")
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To: grundle

Chris Rock’s latest comedy tour saw a huge uptick in ticket sales. Coincidence? Hardly? Will Smith just helping out a friend, and he knows Hollywood won’t do s**t to him because he’s still a big enough movie draw!


26 posted on 03/29/2022 2:28:43 PM PDT by dowcaet
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To: MeneMeneTekelUpharsin

No it wasn’t fake you jerk off, shut up


27 posted on 03/29/2022 2:29:32 PM PDT by Az Joe ("Scratch a Liberal, and a Fascist bleeds")
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To: MeneMeneTekelUpharsin

My gut tells me it was not staged. I got the impression that Smith thought he was the king of the room and could do whatever he pleased.

It could have been staged but we’ll never know now, even if that’s what they may start claiming in the future.


28 posted on 03/29/2022 2:29:46 PM PDT by clashfan ( )
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To: grundle

W1ll $mith has likely done a lot of bad, bad things. But he gets away with it because HE’S AN ENTERTAINER and a DARLING OF THE LEFT.


29 posted on 03/29/2022 2:29:54 PM PDT by Scarlett156 (I dont go on Discord as the last time I did, the guys spying on me/Mr K were talking about it. (BTW))
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To: A Navy Vet

“No, I don’t think it was staged.

Heard on one of these talk shows that the joke was never mentioned in the rehearsal. Anyway, Chris Rocks ticket sales increased 7-fold since the incident. I think it was staged and Will Smith’s tears were phony. Don’t forget he is an actor and can cry at will. IMHO


30 posted on 03/29/2022 2:31:17 PM PDT by duckman ( Not tired of winning!)
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To: MagUSNRET

Not me.)


31 posted on 03/29/2022 2:31:50 PM PDT by Quentin Quarantino
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To: adorno

Im not her doctor so I cant claim to know for sure what her situation is but I do shave my head without a guard. I tend to get the same unusually short even more bald spot at the same place she claims is from her condition. Its right on the back part of the forehead suture and that position means that particular spot gets swiped more than once from more than one angle. The rest of her head has fuzz on it and if that spot is a real problem then I would think that someone in Hollywood of all places would be able to figure out how to disguise it.


32 posted on 03/29/2022 2:32:18 PM PDT by gnarledmaw (Hive minded liberals worship leaders, sovereign conservatives elect servants.)
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To: escapefromboston
Chris Rock hasn’t been funny for at least 10 years.

Did he become WOKE? A serious question. A young Chris Rock was hilarious. At the top of his game. A bit like Dave Chapelle.

Speaking of Dave Chapelle, he's a bit of a recluse. Guess he chose the right time. He wouldn't be permited to his kind of comedy.

33 posted on 03/29/2022 2:32:23 PM PDT by MinorityRepublican
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To: grundle

Not paying attention to anybody that says Pirro “full metal jacket racist.”


34 posted on 03/29/2022 2:32:56 PM PDT by sauropod (So may we start? When can we start?)
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To: grundle
More violence from Blacks.

That's their answer to everything.

35 posted on 03/29/2022 2:34:08 PM PDT by blam
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To: grundle

“stereotypes”

If it is true, Lew, it’s not a stereotype.


36 posted on 03/29/2022 2:34:55 PM PDT by SharpRightTurn (“Giving money & power to government is like giving whiskey & car keys to teenage boys” P.J. O’Rourke)
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To: MeneMeneTekelUpharsin

If it was obviously fake, why do you have to SCREAM? I mean, there’s no possibility that it wasn’t, right?


37 posted on 03/29/2022 2:35:30 PM PDT by windsorknot
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To: grundle

Bad acting?


38 posted on 03/29/2022 2:37:25 PM PDT by Trillian
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To: MinorityRepublican

I want to say he became a lot less funny after his divorce. Years ago he would mention that he wasn’t as funny before his marriage because he was too busy chasing after girls, so when he was married he could focus more on his stand up.
It’s just my guess though because young Chris was really funny.


39 posted on 03/29/2022 2:38:19 PM PDT by escapefromboston (Free Chauvin)
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To: grundle

Is Will Smith ever not crying anymore? He seems to be terribly emotional. He “muscled up” for some movie roles. I wonder if he messed up his system. Or maybe he is just going crazy from being married to a whore.


40 posted on 03/29/2022 2:38:55 PM PDT by cdcdawg (Everyone who disagrees with me is a Qtard blogger!!!!)
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