[Taltarzac725]

Something Simon Scarrow posted on Facebook about the Will Smith-Chris Rock altercation at the Oscars last night.

Simon Scarrow is a British writer of historical novels. Many of these are set in ancient Rome and Britain.

(A lot of people here are saying what Smith should have done. I don't disagree that it would have been wise to do something other than strike Rock. But that's not what my comment was about. I was discussing the implications of what actually happened. Coulda, woulda, shoulda is not a helpful response. I am not best pleased by some of the attacks on my values as a result of people twisting my words to suit their values. But relax, I'm not in the mood for issuing a slapping...)
After having a think about this I have to condone Will Smith's actions. I've seen far too many men use the defence of 'just having a joke' when called out on what is effectively bullying. And a man in position of influence using a public stage to attack a woman with health issues is, let's be honest, about as low as it goes. This was not a dialogue in which Chris Rock could be called to account. He was on the stage with the mic and she was in the audience and inaudible.
More widely, I think it's time that people grew up enough to understand that context is as important as principle. Free speech is not a license to bully and demean. It is about using the ability to communicate freely to challenge ideas that deserve to be challenged and to encourage progress. It is a bad thing when the principle is weaponised to simply bully, offend or humiliate others, as was the case here.
Does that mean that Smith should not have reacted with violence? Again, we have to balance context with principle. Violence maybe wrong in principle but in some contexts it is justified. As in Ukraine where a war of conquest is wrong but a war of resistance is certainly not. Smith could have gone up on stage and used his not inconsiderable charisma and intelligence to put Chris Rock in his place. In fact he should have done that. However, he had seen the hurt Rock's crass remarks had caused his wife and I dare say there are few amongst us who would have resisted the impulse to strike back somehow.
Sometimes emotions rule reason. Ideally reason wins out and prevails and is enough to right the wrong. Sometimes raw emotion drives us to act when reason fails. Sometimes that is justifiable. Sometimes not. As a teacher I've seen bullies smack other kids just because they are stronger and have lost an argument. That's unforgivable. But here, Rock was the bully and, frankly, he had it coming to him.

[manaboutown]

Originally Posted by Velvet

No, it was not in his routine at rehearsal, it was not on his teleprompter- Honolulu Star Advertiser.

I am sorry for Chris’ wife, what a sick sense of humor…. But Will apologized for his violent reaction. Now HE is a class act, in my opinion.

Faked slap. Just like with the three stooges. No injury. No security intervention. Rock kept jabbering away. They are trained actors. Low class tactic to get attention and advance their careers.

[Velvet]

Tal can articulate it so much better than I can.

[DaleDivine]

Originally Posted by retiredguy123

So, you are the one who is going to watch the Academy Awards show?

Not me. I didn't waste my time.
YAWN!!!

[Worldseries27]

Now that the media and actors hyping " the slap heard round the world" have had their 15 minutes and have lowered the bars of decency to the floor i now want to see
michael buffer moderate the presidential debates
with slapping permitted.
"let's get ready to rumble"
1st. Topic. Black on black crime.

[Doro22]

Originally Posted by Joe Mack

Personally I'd be more interested in a show that celebrates the plumber or electrician of the year, not one where a bunch of pompous woke wannabes pat themselves on the back for playing make-believe.

Yes, yes, & yes

[JMintzer]

Originally Posted by Velvet

No, it was not in his routine at rehearsal, it was not on his teleprompter- Honolulu Star Advertiser.

I am sorry for Chris’ wife, what a sick sense of humor…. But Will apologized for his violent reaction. Now HE is a class act, in my opinion.

Well, I'm sure the Honolulu Observer knows...

A sick sense of humor? How so? By joking about his own wife?

That's been a comedy staple for eons...

"Take my wife, PLEASE!"

- Henny Youngman (back in the stone age)


Oh, and Chris Rock apologized immediately after the episode. He said he didn't know about Jada Pinkett-Smith's "illness"...

Smith, otoh, was seen partying and dancing at an Oscar afterparty, all night long...

He didn't apologize to the victim of his "violent reaction" until the next evening, well after Rock had apologized...

[MrFlorida]

Haven't watched in years, didn't even know it was on.

[JMintzer]

Originally Posted by manaboutown

Faked slap. Just like with the three stooges. No injury. No security intervention. Rock kept jabbering away. They are trained actors. Low class tactic to get attention and advance their careers.

So tell me, how can this possibly advance anyone's career?

It's now being reported that the Director of the show, the Head of the Academy and Security immediately huddled to try to figure out what to do...

They panicked and decided not to remove Smith since he was a favorite to win the Oscar for Best Actor...

[dewilson58]

Originally Posted by JMintzer

It's now being reported ..................

[Stu from NYC]

Originally Posted by Worldseries27

Now that the media and actors hyping " the slap heard round the world" have had their 15 minutes and have lowered the bars of decency to the floor i now want to see
michael buffer moderate the presidential debates
with slapping permitted.
"let's get ready to rumble"
1st. Topic. Black on black crime.

Would love to see an honest discussion on black on black crime. For some reason something so important is ignored.

I know why but it is sad.

[Stu from NYC]

Originally Posted by JMintzer

So tell me, how can this possibly advance anyone's career?

It's now being reported that the Director of the show, the Head of the Academy and Security immediately huddled to try to figure out what to do...

They panicked and decided not to remove Smith since he was a favorite to win the Oscar for Best Actor...

I kind of believe it was an inside job to get them both publicity. Than an apology over a day later, seriously?

They are both probably laughing about the whole thing.

[OhioBuckeye]

Could you amagine a little kid slapping another little kid what would happen. Then standing & giving Will Smith a standing ovation. Good god! This was uncalled for by Will Smith & Chris Rock probably shouldn’t of joking about Will wife but that’s no reason to B _ _ _ _ slap someone on live TV. Will Smith played Alli. with a slap like that, come on talk about fake acting!

[JMintzer]

Originally Posted by dewilson58

Yup! Just like "It was reported that Chris Rock ad libbed the joke and that he knew about her "illness" all along...

[Taltarzac725]

I still have not watched last year's Academy Award winner Nomadland nor the year before's Parasite nor Moonlight.

Academy Award for Best Picture - Wikipedia Loved many of the other Best Pictures though.