Will Smith Slaps Chris Rock at the Oscar’s…
…then wins an Oscar?
I think we really are living in the “Twileft Zone”. This most recent incident at the Oscars seems to reinforce the idea. Chris Rock, a comedian who happens to tell jokes for a living, does his job and gets smacked in the face by Will Smith- the joke was made at the expense of Smith’s wife. We apparently live in a world where it is now acceptable to physically assault someone based on what is deemed an offensive joke. In fact, if you are a celebrity, you are rewarded for your actions.
After the incident, Smith is not removed from the building by security. He is, in fact, presented with an Oscar and even cheered as he makes one of the lamest excuses for his actions. He tearfully explains that at this point in his life he is called to be a “defender”. It begs the question, what is Smith defending his wife from? Is it really from a corny joke from a comedian who has not been relevant for decades? Was his action a fit of misplaced anger that was brewing as a result of the the now infamous “entanglement?” It seems Will Smith was the butt of many jokes about that incident. In fact, 50 cent shared a DM that he sent to Smith trolling him about the affair. Perhaps, the joke at Pinkett-Smith’s expense resulted in misguided anger towards Chris Rock?
Smith further declares he wants to be a “vessel of love”: apparently one that slaps people in their faces. There are so many connotations involved in Smith’s actions. It perpetuates the “snowflake” phenomenon, it arguably supports the idea of the repression of speech, and it encourages violence as a means of expression and resolution. Is Smith to be held to the same standard as other entertainers? Will he be held culpable?
Ye, Kanye West, has been marginalized for his handling of his divorce in the face of his now ex-wife, Kim Kardashian, dating Pete “Skete” Davidson. Ye has been banned from performing at the Grammy’s because of his very public display of emotion concerning the pair, and more recently his comments towards Trevor Noah, host of The Daily Show. Bear in mind, Ye has not physically assaulted anyone. His actions are questionable, certainly. But, the fact remains, he has not assaulted a single human being.
In the light of Ye’s “banishment”, it would seem only fair to strip Smith of any awards he received after physically assaulting Chris Rock. It seemed odd that the award ceremony just kept on going. I suppose the old adage “the show must go on” rings true throughout Hollywood. There was no thought to forgo the best actor category in the light of the assault, and it seems, now, that Smith is entirely undeserving given his deplorable actions. There are no amount of tears and apologetic whimpering that can take back that echoing slap. Smith will forever be remembered as the actor who slapped Chris Rock live at the Grammy’s.
