Male violence at the Oscars

Oh Men, when will you learn to deal with your feelings without using your fists? And how can you be trusted with anything until you do?

RoseslnTheHospital

Rock's refusal to press charges can be interpreted as this incident being planned and rehearsed. The fact this happened when Smith has a new movie and this incident has created so much free publicity makes this incident suspect.

It wasn't staged - and if it was Will Smith needs to sack every advisor he's got

I hope people don't really think it was staged. Why would one of the worlds most successful and popular actors, on the cusp of being awarded the greatest honour possible, jeopardise his entire career and reputation to help the Oscars out?

Either violence is ok or it isn't
That's an opinion. Some of us think it can be justified in certain circumstances. No one is condemning the Ukrainian army for fighting back against the Russians for example, and demanding they only resort to peaceful protest.

I think violence is never great but it can be quite effective and there can also be worse things.

What a fabulous example he is to all the young men in the world. Disrespect their partners and it's ok to be violent, because as Will so nobly said "love can make you do crazy things" and who's to argue against love, eh?

It was a crass joke, though not worst that these 'roasting' events have thrown up. Perhaps the Academy are going to have to rethink their format going forward.

I'm on the fence about how I feel about that because I don't think anyone would enjoy it going back to sycophantic fawning of A listers but the jibes are hit and miss.

There have been some well aimed shots in the past at individuals known for unpleasant conduct that Hollywood is turning a blind eye to. Then others, like this one, making fun of someone's hair loss are just mean and uncalled for.

"Violence" like this creates a buzz. This is essentially a free advert for Smith's movie as well as an opportunity to reframe the Oscars as edgy,tense and unpredictable.

I put violence is quotation marks as I think Smith pulled his punched and Rock rehearsed as reaction.

There are times violence is justified.

And someone publically insulting your wife might be one of them.

If you go around insulting women's appearance in a way you know they are sensitive about in front of their husbands, I think you should reasonably expect to run the risk of getting punched in the face.

And equally you can rightly expected to be arrested for assault if you do punch someone insulting your wife. You may decide it's worth it.

In this situation however: they are wealthy people at a work event where they know a comedian is paid to take the piss out of them and all their rich friends.
It was one comment which they knew was a joke and wasn't terribly insulting.

In that circumstance you grin and bear it.

It wasn't staged - and if it was Will Smith needs to sack every advisor he's got because people have been laughing at him all day on Twitter. Everyone is making fun of his marriage and calling him a cuck.

But it wasn't staged.... the hot takes on ratings and trending topics ignore the long term branding and evidence. I think CR thought it was going to be funny when WS went up on stage so was smiling but then he actually got hit....and then got sworn at. Really vulgar & vile behaviour IMO - what a joke the whole event looks now.

And all this "he was protecting his wife's honour" - this isn't the Game of Thrones. Year 4s in the playground aren't allowed to respond to someone saying something mean to them like that.

It's really disgusting - to even think that you can respond violently is crazy. Is this what every comedian faces now from hecklers? Or are just famous people allowed to get up on stage and hit the comedian they don't like?

If somebody made an offensive joke at my expense and my husband at first laughed and then decided to slap them only after seeing my reaction, I'd be upset at the person who made the joke, but I'd be horrified at my husband's over-reaction

I agree

I'm not overly worried simply because it looked so fake and contrived to me. American society is full of 'managed reality', from TV shows to weird bars where good looking girls are employed by clubs/bars to talk to you, be your friend and get you to spend more. It's all perfectly acceptable and part of life. When I've been in bars and seen this weird set up and how groups of men find it perfectly normal it really makes you wonder what the hell is going on. My other half and I lived in the USA for a few years and we could never get our heads round this weird dynamic (well that's what he says when talking to me anyway!).

Then we have all the fake reality shows with all their fake feuds. Note the constant feuding where they argue, fight, throw drinks at each other and yes, slap each other.
Even the news channels get in on it. A group of us were watching CNN and they were reporting on the street and interviewing someone (this is not a political comment) and it was so obviously set up we couldn't believe it. The only person who thought it was real in our mixed group were our American friends. They simply could not see it.

I know we think that no one would do this as a set up but American society is absolutely riddled with all of this rubbish. Add on the simple fact that Oscars ratings are through the toilet and what do you get....

Oh yes it is. Sorry but you don't know what you're stalking about.

We'll as it's purely speculation until this time next year, we won't know that, will we.

Let's hope that people in the film business haven't degenerated to the point where their award ceremonies are deliberately dominated by male violence.

Fingers crossed.

You genuinely don't see how? Even though it is fast becoming the most talked about moment TV history?

That's not the same as getting people to watch the Oscars.

It's making the organisers of the Oscars look awful. People are condemning him being given an Oscar and having the opportunity to speak. This is not a favourable thing for the Oscars.

My opinion of humanity can be fairly low at times, but even I don't think that people will crowd to the Oscars in order to watch the hosts being hit.

If it was staged; CR makes no report and LAPD dont spend time managing the media circus.

If it was not staged; CR makes no report and LAPD dont spend time managing the media circus.

If it was not staged; CR makes a report and LAPD spends time managing the media circus.
They have multiple camera angles of the act. WS negotiates a lesser charge and pleads guilty, pleads guilty to battery, or pleads not guilty it goes to court.

If it was not staged; CR makes a report, other's testify it was and LAPD have a big mess to investigate along with spending time managing the media circus.

He either knew enough or not enough.

Its the formal do of the year male or female hair, makeup, dress and decorations are big business.

If he sees a woman of her age, know nothing about her, is she likely rocking a look or going through cancer treatment?
Dont know, then dont comment.

So
Who wrote the line?
Why was it funny?
Why did he expect it to get a laugh?
It is obvious from her body language that she is not "happy"
He goes back to self congratulate as a punchline.

I missed the word, but his body language was "how funny am I"

There is no way the script did not go through legal and PR and media without being run against each parties public profile and gossip profile.

How did he explain the link JS and giJane?

Will smith obviously shouldn't have done that but if you have a pop at someones wife thats the risk you take. Big enough to give it big enough to take it. Good chance it was scripted anyway.

I listened again and I don't think CR was being deliberately unkind. Demi Moore won plaudits for GI Jane and CR said, 'Can't wait for GI Jane 2.' That's saying something that could at least be interpreted in a positive way. Not very sensitive given her public comments about her condition, but insensitive at worst.

And Will Smith was so out of line - unbelievable seeing so many people kissing up to him about it.

Don't condone Will Smith's behaviour in ANY way, I mean seriously, wtf?!! But I think Chris Rock behaved like a dick too. He made a lazy, cheap gag at a woman with a publicised medical issue just to big himself up in front of the audience. If it had happened in a schoolyard it would have been called bullying. Classy guy...

Its a small but important difference. It removes LAPD's obligation to investigate and make an independant decision to charge. Instead CR has to make the first move.
Once that happens CR is creating a police record of a criminal allegation. False reporting is a criminal act.