Will Smith punches Chris Rock on stage at the Oscars.

[CheeseMuffin]

I think I speak for us all when I ask WTF just happened?

https://www.theguardian.com/film/2022/mar/27/will-smith-punch-chris-rock-wife-joke-gi-jane-video-oscars

@Swayingpalmtrees

There is never ever a good reason to be violent towards another person world regardless of how worthy you think the cause might be.

I strongly disagree.

Will needs to sleep on it and then apologise to Chris and the public for his physical violence. He is a role model to many and is role modelling the wrong thing. He needs to publically state that there is never any excuse for hitting someone and he’s sorry and fully understands if Chris wants to press charges.

Only just seen this this morning, I don’t know what to think. Of course Will was in the wrong but the joke the Rock made about his wife was just messed up. I know comedians like to push boundaries but that was out of line. Wills reaction was extreme, he could of waited and made his feelings clear after the awards but he lost it . I feel sorry for others who have had their limelight stolen because of what happened.

Also if he’s so quick to assault a random man, is that what he’s like say to day?

I would worry for Jada that this is indicative of what he's actually like as a person, because it's a terrible way to respond and especially two black men in public at the most diverse Oscars ever.

You realise defending Will Smith and saying there are some reasons when violence IS the answer is the same as the men who defend beating their partners. She made me do it, she said xyz that just made me see red… there’s no justification for assaulting someone like that, absolutely none.

Women in the end become the victims of such violent behaviour.

I think respect to Jada that she didn't feel the need to laugh it off and you could see how disgusted she is with the comment, but that's all the response Chris Rock deserved.

@Applesonthelawn

I don't think it's staged, his shouting afterwards is just too ugly and the way he holds himself when walking back is just revealing too much repressed fury or fear. He was keeping it in until he saw Jada's response too which indicates it was her response which triggered it for him rather than the comment itself. If it's not real, it's perfect acting, and I don't think many actors are that good.

The shouting, particularly the second time, takes away doubt imo. It wasn’t staged and CR was shocked by the shouting

What would the right response be?

To publicly ridicule a woman's appearance and health condition- which has potential to be related to underlying trauma- on tv, in front of a packed room of celebrities and powerbrokers- that's despicable, and no amount of later apologies from the event organisers was going to cut the mustard.

He took a moment of maximum visibility and impregnability and abused it.

What is the correct response to that? Clearly it isn't punching the guy. What should have been done instead? What would make people think twice about prioritising their cleverness over a woman's pain?

I've heard for years that Will Smith has an aggressive, controlling personality. That's why his career seemed to stall for a while. He wanted total control over any filming he was in. Ever noticed he did the theme songs to them? That was one of his stipulations, and producers got fed up of it.
But anyway, since when was violence the answer to something you didn't like? We all have different tolerances but we can't just go around assaulting people. That way lies trouble.

I think it goes to show if you are a powerful male in Hollywood you can get away with anything. If a member of the public did something like this they would immediately be removed and arrested. Will Smith does it and minutes later gets handed an award and given a standing ovation.

Male misogyny and male violence, dressed up as "banter" and "love". Like you see on the Relationships board all the time.
Can't believe anyone would defend either of those bullying turds.

Just seen another clip on twitter of him doing similar before. In this clip it's chilling how he slips from anger to jovial again without taking a breath.

twitter.com/pinatafarms/status/1508333011980410880

I really feel for Jada being the butt of a mean public joke but I get the feeling Chris Rock might actually be the least of her problems.

@picklemewalnuts

What would the right response be?

To publicly ridicule a woman's appearance and health condition- which has potential to be related to underlying trauma- on tv, in front of a packed room of celebrities and powerbrokers- that's despicable, and no amount of later apologies from the event organisers was going to cut the mustard.

He took a moment of maximum visibility and impregnability and abused it.

What is the correct response to that? Clearly it isn't punching the guy. What should have been done instead? What would make people think twice about prioritising their cleverness over a woman's pain?

To educate everyone on her pain and trauma in his acceptance speech. That’s it’s not ok to ridicule this or similar conditions. To discuss ableism. To talk about any linked charities and what they do to support.That would’ve been the better response.

@zafferana

Will Smith went a bit apeshit, but actually I think he was justified. He and Jada have probably had enough of being the butt of people's jokes and if someone was making fun of me, just to get a laugh, I'd hope my DH would act too. I realise that slapping someone is assault, but the joke was in horrible taste and Chris Rock is a jerk. Making fun of a woman's hair falling out??? Oh yeah, very fucking hilarious. What an arsehole.

But thats what happens at these awards shows, the speeches are always this way- so he's been happy to support the awards and laugh at other people, but oh now it involves me I'm really annoyed. My DH would do something too, he would walk out or he would say something calmly but concisely or report through the proper channels afterwards, I'd be really ashamed if he hit someone and would make me consider if I wanted to be with someone who resorted to violence as they couldn't control themselves.

I can't believe people think it is staged either. Why on earth would they stage violence between two black men? It was real.

The best response will always be to inform others of the pain of this condition, to receive a standing ovation for bringing attention to it in a dignified manner.

Jada has a dh problem so to speak.

@toomanytwinkies

You realise defending Will Smith and saying there are some reasons when violence IS the answer is the same as the men who defend beating their partners. She made me do it, she said xyz that just made me see red… there’s no justification for assaulting someone like that, absolutely none.

Sadly too true. A slap or punch is never on.

Boorish behaviour .

No denying what Chris Rock said was bang out of order but those defending Will Smith’s actions would you be saying the same if it say Gary the scaffolder hitting another bloke outside ‘Spoons on a Saturday night ?!!
Misogyny dressed up as comedy , male violence dressed up as love !!

I've seen a clip supposed to be Chris Rock and his entourage afterwards when they're explaining to him that it wasn't a joke. Rock seems to be shouting for Smith as if he's upstairs or something. If this is real, it makes me wonder what their relationship has been like to date.

Good for him. Chris Rock was an arsehole.

Exactly @oakleaffy male violence against men will often end up as violence against women.

Shocking to see some blue ticks on Twitter defending him.

He should have taken him aside, had a word, made him apologise.
When he walks up to Chris he’s passive like he isn’t going to hit him and then sneaks it in. It’s cowardly. He should have been removed from site and not allowed to get his Oscar.

@Hotpinkangel19

Good for him. Chris Rock was an arsehole.

Would you say the same if Amy Schumer made the joke and Will Smith punched her?