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Will Smith punches Chris Rock on stage at the Oscars.

999 replies

CheeseMuffin · 28/03/2022 04:10

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

OP posts:
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5
Abraxan · 28/03/2022 18:00

@Swayingpalmtrees

Jada should not have been there if she was feeling too fragile full stop. The oscars is well known for this kind of stuff. You can not control what other people say or joke about, life isn't like that.
So a woman with a medical condition has to hide herself away incase a man makes jokes about her medical condition?

She isn't being 'too fragile' to be hurt by comments against her health situation. It should never have happened. She shouldn't have to expect men to make fun of her, even more so when she has a known medical condition which causes the very thing her 'joked' about - and by all accounts the other man knows this.

Not condoning any violence. I don't see that as the answer at all.

However, the post made by this person is awful.

Surely she isn't the one coming out of this who should be hidden away.
The two men involved are the ones in the wrong entirely, not this woman.

Kanaloa · 28/03/2022 18:08

I don’t think people were saying she should hide away but more that it shouldn’t/wouldn’t have been a huge shock. Personally I don’t think ‘roast’ comedy is funny at all but it’s not unusual at these events and Chris Rock particularly is kind of famous for it. I believe he made a joke at another event that ‘since R Kelly is here we had to sit the Olsen twins way up there/Eminem doesn’t even like his own mother so god knows what he’ll say about you’ etc. Like it’s common for him to find something someone is obviously sensitive about and try to exploit it for a cheap laugh.

toomanytwinkies · 28/03/2022 18:13

To the people commenting Will Smith.

You know that drunken guy at a bar that punches another random guy, or gets all laity and starts a fight and then is dragged out by a bouncer, the one you probably judge and think are drunk, violent waste of spaces. It’s very likely he lashed out because someone looked the wrong way at him or something was said about his partner.

If you think what Will Smith did was right, then you also think the drunk man in the bar was right. Unless of course, you’re only sided with Will Smith because he’s a famous actor you like.

Honestly this thread has been an eye opener. I am actually properly shocked that on a site full of women, where threads on male violence and toxic masculinity are posted and discussed, where in the wake of Sarah Everard’s kidnap and murder we all started looking at the reasons for male violence, where it comes from and what as a society we can do to stop it. I am shocked that there are women brushing this off as ‘he asked for it’ and ‘I’d do the same.’ I’m not sure if it’s the double standards, the lack of self awareness or the brushing it under the carpet for a celeb you kinda like, but the massive reaches on here, the bending backwards and tying themselves in knots to justify it or make it something other than what it is (which is physical assault plain and simple) is mind boggling.

Next time you comment on a thread where an OP has said ‘should I leave DH after he just beat me about the head’ just think about this thread and how you defended make violence. Because I’m sure that DH will have ‘she deserved it’ snd ‘she made me do it’ as his excuses too! Maybe ask OP what she said to deserve it.

awaynboilyurheid · 28/03/2022 18:15

Why didn’t Will Smith just go up grab the mike and say to Chris Rick it’s not ok to make jokes about woman’s appearance it’s 2022 fgs! He would have been applauded it for it and made Chris Rick look like an idiot.
Instead he resorted to slapping which made him look like an idiot.

Swayingpalmtrees · 28/03/2022 18:16

I did not suggest for one minute Jada should 'hide away' but when you go to the oscars regardless if it is a female or male comedian you have to be prepared to roll with the punches. It does make it right, the joke was said in bad taste, but she was there knowing what was likely to occur abraxan and what I also said was Jada should have been able to respond in the way she wanted to, the way it was taken over by Will in such a violent and disrespectful way was shocking.

Jada has a voice, she has spirit and she has the capacity to deal with this herself, she is a grown women and does not need a man to 'fight' for her, she can stand up and do it herself. It was not an empowering experience for her at all. Will took away her right to respond in the way she wanted to, the fact he did so with such casual violence highlighted to the whole world what kind of person he is, and volumes about their marriage.

Quirkyme · 28/03/2022 18:19

@GrantedIamtired

What is predictable is MN minimising and overlooking Jada's hurt. The focus will be on violence which should be but shocking how black women are a fair game in comedy
AGREE WITH THIS.
tttigress · 28/03/2022 18:24

@awaynboilyurheid

Why didn’t Will Smith just go up grab the mike and say to Chris Rick it’s not ok to make jokes about woman’s appearance it’s 2022 fgs! He would have been applauded it for it and made Chris Rick look like an idiot. Instead he resorted to slapping which made him look like an idiot.
Yep, that would have worked a lot better!
LondonWolf · 28/03/2022 18:26

Honestly this thread has been an eye opener. I am actually properly shocked that on a site full of women, where threads on male violence and toxic masculinity are posted and discussed, where in the wake of Sarah Everard’s kidnap and murder we all started looking at the reasons for male violence, where it comes from and what as a society we can do to stop it. I am shocked that there are women brushing this off as ‘he asked for it’ and ‘I’d do the same.’ I’m not sure if it’s the double standards, the lack of self awareness or the brushing it under the carpet for a celeb you kinda like, but the massive reaches on here, the bending backwards and tying themselves in knots to justify it or make it something other than what it is (which is physical assault plain and simple) is mind boggling

I agree with you. Was just thinking while I was driving home about the amount of people who think this was ok and deserved. We seem to live in a world now where it has become acceptable to attack other people. Certain words, certain behaviours, "micro aggressions" earn violence that it is almost expected under those particular circumstances and there's a real coldness in the response to it. It actually has given me nervous butterflies in my stomach reading all the justifications all over SM. It seems very regressive to me, as though we are returning to a more primitive time, where we attacked first and thought later.

And at the risk of drawing the wrath of MN on myself, I don't think what CR said was that bad. "GI Jane" was a great movie with a strong, amazing woman holding her own in a completely male dominated environment. I'd have taken it as a compliment, even if he didn't altogether mean it that way.

Eyedropeyeflop · 28/03/2022 18:26

@Quirkyme

I know I laughed too. Apparently saying some people deserve a slap warrants me a good candidate for anger management 😂.

I stand by what I said. Some people really do deserve a slap, okay you can’t compare Chris Rock to Putin but violence can be a last resort.

It was the geeky kid in my years last resort when he was fed up of being mercilessly bullied by the local chav, and you know what? It worked. He was never bullied again after giving him a slap.

soulinablackberrypie · 28/03/2022 18:27

I realise I'm not the first to say this but IMO they both behaved badly.

In Will Smith's case I'm reminded of Zinedine Zidane's head-butt. Yes, there was provocation - and Zidane was probably hot and tired and hurting at the time. I can sort of understand how both men reacted as they did in the spur of the moment but that doesn't excuse it. There has to be some consequence to make them, and others, think twice in future.

The only person who really comes off well in this story is Denzel Washington. I've always rather liked him and this seems to confirm my instinct that he was just a nice, decent man.

Quirkyme · 28/03/2022 18:30

@GrantedIamtired

What is predictable is MN minimising and overlooking Jada's hurt. The focus will be on violence which should be but shocking how black women are a fair game in comedy
It's exhausting the way "we do not condone violence" is used (as the Academy very clearly stated) but then proceed to condone the mental, verbal, physical and emotional violence against black women.

Misogynoir is a thing and the ways in which is it not viewed as a form of violence is also exhausting.

SueSaid · 28/03/2022 18:30

'Why didn’t Will Smith just go up grab the mike and say to Chris Rick it’s not ok to make jokes about woman’s appearance it’s 2022 fgs!'

Yes and that surely would have had an incredibly powerful effect.

I wonder why he wasn’t escorted off the premises? it's like people are tip toeing round the issue and for him and his family to attend the after party would seem rather arrogant. Is he that important in LA, some kind of big star privilege thing going on?

Her shaved head looked fine, exactly like her daughter's in fact. I'm not sure if those with alopecia who have an actual bald head would understand the offence taken

Eyedropeyeflop · 28/03/2022 18:39

@JaniieJones

Oh silly Jada for being offended over her bald alopecia head. Yeah, you’re right it was just her the black lady being over sensitive. Because that’s not invalidating is it?

unname · 28/03/2022 18:39

I find it relevant that neither Chris Rock nor Will Smith's representatives have made a statement yet today.

I also think this has done a fantastic job of distracting everyone from the fact that no one said "Ukraine" out loud at the show last night.

WowIlikereallyhateyou · 28/03/2022 18:42

@MollyRover

Something really off about Chris Rock in general, I remember seeing him on Graham Norton once and his attitude towards women was pretty disgusting. Wouldn't surprise me if there was genuine animosity there. Chris Rock is just not funny either, real "lowest common denominator" comedy in my opinion.
This, apparently he is well known for being a pretty loathsome individual in real life. Richard Madeley and wife Judy also said he was the nastiest person they had ever interviewed.
Quirkyme · 28/03/2022 18:45

I also think it's interesting that there was no security whatsoever , I'm completely baffled by this.

So when Will Smith was walking up to Chris Rock, no security movement.

Then when he boxed him, no security movement.

Interesting. Is all I can say.

Eyedropeyeflop · 28/03/2022 18:50

@Quirkyme

Initially it didn’t really look like he was going to slap him due to the calm manner in which he walked up slapped him and then returned to his seat. I think everyone was in shock although of course I could be wrong.

Yes Chris Rock has made an onslaught of “female jokes” in the past, and generally he is not well liked. Maybe, just maybe he met his match.

SueSaid · 28/03/2022 18:51

'Oh silly Jada for being offended over her bald alopecia head.'

Look at the photos she looks exactly the same as her dd. A shaved head rather than a bald head.

As Rock and the Smiths have history I think that is the issue.

Why wasn't Smith removed do you think? Violence is never ok.

Eyedropeyeflop · 28/03/2022 18:55

@JaniieJones

What are you trying to imply? That she doesn’t have alopecia? She’s been quite public with her struggle with it. I think you’ll find Rock has “history” with quite a few celebs.

Richard Madeley for example has interviewed a fair few Celebs in his time since 1972 and he said he was the nastiest character he had ever had the pleasure of interviewing. A lot of that interview had to be edited out.

If you go round repeatedly chatting shit, there will be a point when you inevitably do get banged.

Quirkyme · 28/03/2022 18:56

[quote Eyedropeyeflop]@Quirkyme

Initially it didn’t really look like he was going to slap him due to the calm manner in which he walked up slapped him and then returned to his seat. I think everyone was in shock although of course I could be wrong.

Yes Chris Rock has made an onslaught of “female jokes” in the past, and generally he is not well liked. Maybe, just maybe he met his match.[/quote]
Yeah I guess so for the calm walk.

However, when he boxed him, security should have moved in.

Yeah everyone was laughing, I also watched it a few times thinking it was staged. However, security should have moved faster.

Quirkyme · 28/03/2022 18:58

[quote Eyedropeyeflop]@JaniieJones

What are you trying to imply? That she doesn’t have alopecia? She’s been quite public with her struggle with it. I think you’ll find Rock has “history” with quite a few celebs.

Richard Madeley for example has interviewed a fair few Celebs in his time since 1972 and he said he was the nastiest character he had ever had the pleasure of interviewing. A lot of that interview had to be edited out.

If you go round repeatedly chatting shit, there will be a point when you inevitably do get banged.[/quote]
Quote "chat shit get banged"

I know what you're on girl 😉🤣

StrawberryPot · 28/03/2022 18:58

It's exhausting the way "we do not condone violence" is used (as the Academy very clearly stated) but then proceed to condone the mental, verbal, physical and emotional violence against black women.

^^ This. Totally. Though I wouldn't restrict it to black women. Constant bullying, belittling, snide remarks can cause far more damage than a slap.

Quirkyme · 28/03/2022 19:00

@Eyedropeyeflop

Also, can I say poor Lupita.

Her facial expressions - she did not know where to look, to laugh, to not, to gasp.

Love her. She is me.

🤣

Eyedropeyeflop · 28/03/2022 19:00

😁 😁 😁

Eyedropeyeflop · 28/03/2022 19:01

@Quirkyme

I was supposed to put crying laughter faces but yes she really didn’t know where to put herself 🤦‍♀️.

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