Will Smith should not be the only one punished for the Oscars Controversy
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April 6, 2022
Will Smith has become the latest meme during the Oscars on March 27. After a poorly made “G.I. Jane” joke by Chris Rock, a comedian and actor, made about Smith’s wife Jada Pinkett Smith, Will Smith walked onto the stage and slaps Rock. This was the slap heard around the world as memes and commentary videos erupted over the internet.
Will Smith may have resorted to violence and is justly receiving punishment, but Chris Rock has not faced repercussions after this event.
After the slap, Will Smith continues to yell at Chris Rock stating, “Keep my wife’s name out your fucking mouth.” Will then won an Academy Award for best actor soon after.
Since then there has been speculation about whether or not his award shall be rescinded, an act that has only happened once in the Academy’s history according to People Magazine. Will Smith has resigned from the Academy, which does not affect his ability to win awards but does prevent him from events and voting according to the New York Times.
Violence is never the answer, and Will Smith should not have hit Rock on national television, let’s just get that out of the way. There is no condoning of his actions in this article.
However, Rock made a horrible joke about Jada Smith’s shaved head which was linked to her Alopecia. There are so many things wrong with this joke. Rock made a joke about a Black woman and a hair loss disorder. Black women have been the brunt of jokes since the beginning of time. It is a disgusting trend that needs to stop. As the target of jokes, Black women continue to be stepped on by America. No one has seemed concerned with Jada Smith’s feelings surrounding the incident. The news has mainly circulated around Will Smith’s punishment.
Rock should not have made that joke. There have been no repercussions on Rock’s side of things. Seeing all the punishment fall to Will Smith and not Rock is a highlight of how society turns a blind eye to things viewed as a joke, and news fully focuses on violence.
This was not the only ill joke on the Academy stage that night. Amy Schumer commented on how Jake and Maggie Gyllenhal, who are siblings, were in attendance calling it “a night for lovers.”
There are so many controversial jokes that were made that have been overshadowed by this Will Smith drama. It goes to show that the controversy of the Oscars, the racism and sexism of years past, have not been solved.
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L Z • May 12, 2022 at 9:26 pm
SPOT ON! Everything Is Not Meant To Be Laughed At! Thanks for writing this article! Chris Rock Still Needs To Be Reprimanded about Berating Jada In Front of Her Family and The Whole World!!!!
J Peezy • Apr 22, 2022 at 12:03 am
Stupid opinion, those comics are hired to bring those actors down to our level, to roast them for a few minutes before giving the stage away. And sorry, but saying a comic can’t say certain things is the death of comedy. Comics push the boundaries, that’s why they’re funny, and as anyone whose been lucky enough to have been targeted by a comedian during a routine, you don’t get mad, you laugh at yourself and with the crowd unless you’re some kind of anti-social snob of a jerk who shouldn’t leave the home in the first place. Alopecia isn’t some kind of terminal disease, and thinking Chris Rock should even care or know about Jada “Fake As it Gets” problem, or conparing her to another beautiful woman who shaved her head for a role, is laughable and just plain disingenuous. Try again.
Angela Frink • Apr 16, 2022 at 8:29 pm
I think Jada should share responsibility too she was smirking after the whole insident she started
Steve • Apr 11, 2022 at 5:15 pm
Great opinion! I enjoyed reading it
Robin Johns • Apr 9, 2022 at 7:40 pm
I agree that the outcry has been lopsided. The look on the lady’s face was clearly one of hurt. Physical abuse is not the only form of abuse. Chris Rock was out of line and should be reprimanded as well.
Boo • Apr 9, 2022 at 7:04 pm
I’m from Japan. I see so many Japanese people commenting that why Chris Rock is not apologizing making that kind of jokes.
What Will Smith did was wrong. It is a crime, but Chris Rock shouldn’t have made that kind of joke. He could have made jokes about something else.
Dave • Apr 8, 2022 at 11:17 am
He wasn’t punished? You think he wanted to be slapped in the face? Let’s face it, that was a harsh reaction to a fairly tame joke. That was more than enough “punishment”. Will Smith, however, literally broke the law. Let’s not get it twisted.
That’s said, I think everyone who is going for strict punishment is crazy. I don’t know anything about his home life, but I know a lot of it gets put out there. I know he’s got to be under enormous stress. I know he’s been a hugely positive role model for decades. And I know this isn’t something he has a huge history of. Only other time I’ve heard him laying hands on someone, he was assaulted by them immediately beforehand. He had a moment of weakness. Hell, I’ve had dozens.
Will Smith was absolutely in the wrong. This isn’t an event where celebrities don’t get absolutely roasted historically, this wasn’t even the most insensitive thing said to the family that night. This was just a man under intense pressure at a highly emotional moment in his life, slightly buckling under the pressure. No charges were pressed, he apologized to all involved and resigned… … We should be moving on.
Patrick • Apr 11, 2022 at 9:59 am
I am sorry but as someone with a condition myself I find your reasoning highly offensive. Will’s actions are not excusable, but just because Rock “did not know” is not an excuse either.. should that be everyone’s excuse now for anyone cracking a joke on someone like her or me? FWIW it is not the first time he cracked a joke on her.
He deserves punishment as much as will.. or just let Will get slapped and return to the stage.
Angela Frink • Apr 16, 2022 at 8:31 pm
I think Jada does
Patrick • Apr 11, 2022 at 10:11 am
No, I am sorry but Rock is just as responsible. I have a condition myself. Let me ask you why it is ok to crack a joke on someones condition just because you didn’t know? Really? How would this make you feel if you were that person? Smith was wrong for his actions.. but so is Rock for his cruel joke. If a slap is all it takes for Rock to avoid punishment, then should Will be allowed back if he were to let Rock slap him back?
Anthony • Apr 11, 2022 at 7:24 pm
If I was Jada in the situation I believe i wouldn’t care. It’s not something altering the way she must live, impeding her life style or threatening her health. Hair is a important part of culture for us but there are still options(especially with her type of money), not to mention a shaved head is not a thing of shame for black women or women im general rn. People in my life joke about my asthma, eyesight, possible future mental illnesses and allergies all the time as a way of acceptance, not shame. In the end though it’s up to each of us how well we will or even can cope with life and in this case, that joke was far from cruel. One action was a crime, the other was rude at best during an event where that has come to be expected
Ana • Apr 7, 2022 at 9:30 pm
what I think is Will Smith laughed at the joke when Chris Rock told it n it wasn’t too put wills wife down with her auto immune disorder, I think it’s pretty inexcusable that they use that as a excuse cause I have a auto immune disorder n I got the joke!! I laughed at it myself but she just had to take it there n make it out like chris is making fun of her when Chris was clearly making a joke about how she looked like demi Moore not as a PUT DOWN to her condition…Will Smith did not have to go up on stage and do what he did at all when he after all preaches about love and peace in the world n does that? it’s pretty pathetic how He acted and cursed and How things are being handled now cause he resigned from the oscar board but can still attend he just can’t vote?..If that was Mel Gibson who BTW was banned from the oscars for a while n was finally able to come back for doing abusive behavior , or anybody else They would of been kicked out that night !! … there is no reason at all for how Will smith acted but he thinks he is entitled!! …There is no excuse for anyone too put their hands on another human being…assault is assault n doing that on t.v I mean really??was that to show he was such a big man after Jada was caught laughing on video when he slapped Chris?? She’s no better than Will, As far as I’m concerned Chris Rock was the class act guy n how he handle the situation. Will Smith just is covering his backside now and trying to do control damage…doing what his publist is telling him to do….but hate too tell him the damage is done….
Ben Carroll • Apr 7, 2022 at 1:33 pm
I’m sorry, but I wouldn’t print this in a high school paper.
“There have been no repercussions on Rock’s side of things. Seeing all the punishment fall to Will Smith and not Rock is a highlight of how society turns a blind eye to things viewed as a joke, and news fully focuses on violence.”
Chris Rock told a joke. With his mouth. Words. He’s a comedian. Your taste in humor notwithstanding, that’s his job. That joke, as jokes at those events go, was pretty tame. Regardless, making a joke at someon’es expense doesn’t constitute an assault. Go ask a law professor if you don’t believe me.
Will Smith assaulted someone, in front of a large audience, on television. With his hands. Committed assault. Which, last time I checked, was an actual, real-life criminal offense.
And you’re upset that the focus is on the punishment of the guy who committed a crime (that he won’t be prosecuted for)? And not on the comedian who told a joke you took exception to?
And you end your nonsensical “column” by sighing loudly and lamenting that racism still exists at the oscars?
Katlyn, this is a load of nonsense.
Henry Burgstenburger • Apr 7, 2022 at 7:48 pm
Yes people know Chris is a comedian its not rocket science. But, the joke he made towards her condition is uncalled for. Its like telling a handicapped person a joke about their legs. Or a kid with cancer in severe condition and joking about something like Say hi to my mom for me or something. You understand my point unless you are just not competent.
Kevin • Apr 9, 2022 at 6:35 am
He might have not known she’s got a condition. Therefore, Will laughed himself so I think this statement is invalid.
Ben • Apr 22, 2022 at 6:34 pm
Whether he knew or didn’t know is irrelevant. And he didn’t make a joke about her alopecia. He exploited a similarity in her physical appearance to that of Demi Moore in the movie GI Jane to make a comparitive joke which was on its own mertis harmless, innocent, and arguably funny.
Hair loss is not childhood cancer. Losing patches of your hair is nothing like losing the function and mobility in your legs. Your suggestion that the conditions are comparable is offensively ignorant.
You’re probably not someone who should be questioning someone else’s “competence”, though that word used that way feels conversationally awkward and the definition doesn’t quite fit your context. You should probably replace “you are just not competent” with “you’re just obtuse.” Still pretty obnoxious, but at least it reads better.
Kathryn M Kissane • Apr 8, 2022 at 12:23 pm
Foolish, foolish article. Such a display of ignorance??
Also…Chris had no clue about the medical condition.
This article is a pos.
DANDAN Jinger Ramos • Apr 7, 2022 at 6:09 am
On my views to this article- it’s very supportive of the man who caused a violent way towards another. Hello it’s all a joke his a comedian and not to be seriously taken emotionally. Hey you saw how the husband open his big mouth and laughed with all the audience
Shelia • Apr 7, 2022 at 9:45 pm
I agree
Patrick • Apr 11, 2022 at 9:52 am
Excuse me? I have a condition and you are saying that just because someone got slapped they do not deserve punishment for instigating the whole problem to begin with? So it is just ok to use people with a condition as the butt of your joke? Who are you? really? I don’t know you have a condition so that is ok to crack a joke on me? how is this ok? No wonder people with conditions / disabilities in this country feel like everyone hates them. No, Wills action were horrible, but Chris is not blameless by any means. Maybe Will should just get a slap on the face and return to the stage.. according to your logic? F anyone that thinks this is ok.
TRACY H • Apr 6, 2022 at 9:59 pm
Chris Rock has said he had no idea about her alopecia. No one I’ve spoken to had any notion, and most didn’t know exactly who she was. The idea that we all should know every movie star’s reasons for their particular hairstyle is absurd. Also, GI Jane’s look, as sported by Demi Moore, is considered pretty damn hot, so I’m struggling to find the insult. And anyone whose feelings are that delicate probably shouldn’t become a big star constantly in the public eye, where one is likely to get dinged. A lot.
The comics who are hired to do these award shows are expected to tease and take down a peg these insanely rich, self-satisfied stars who are gathered together to congratulate one another. This is called punching up. Not even Chris Rock is in either Smith’s league when it comes to wealth and influence.
And Jada seems to have survived intact, given the pictures of her and her family partying like mad five minutes later. If it makes her feel better to think herself a victim (we should all be so unfortunate), that’s fine. We don’t have to join her in it, though.
Henry Burgstenburger • Apr 7, 2022 at 7:50 pm
Im sure he knew about her condition. It was all over the place. And he was friends with Will and other celebrities that probably brought it up. Its not like he lived under a rock till the oscars.
Shelia • Apr 7, 2022 at 9:44 pm
So true ?
Patrick • Apr 11, 2022 at 10:02 am
.As someone with a condition myself, it is ok to make a joke about someone because “you didn’t know”?
Highly offensive. Especially to someone like myself. Will’s actions are not excusable, but neither are Rock’s.