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

To be fair, that’s always been the case: the New Testament includes Christ telling people to ‘turn the other cheek’. The depressing thing is that so many people still think it’s reasonable. In this country we now find violence within the family legally and morally unacceptable but injuring someone we disagree with (however unreasonable we might find their views) is still fine by many it seems.

'Turn the other cheek' is advocating a non violent response to offence, not promoting violence. It is the passive resistance, non escalation response. Something WS might think on with all his quasi religious ramblings.

@Motherdare

I can’t believe the justifying of violence I am reading on here. It is never justified unless in physical self-defence. What he did was terrible. Those of you excusing it or “seeing his point of view”, I hope you don’t have children that you are passing this moral code onto.

It was a joke. Not a nice one but not the end of the world. I didn’t know Jada had an illness, would Chris Rock know? I thought that was just her look. Also her husband laughed heartily until he saw her eye rolling reaction.

His sudden explosion of rage was frightening.

Same, all the posters almost gleeful about WS hitting someone. We surely all know by now that this wont have been the first time WS threw a punch. So who did he hit previously and where? It's right out of the abusers handbook, but posters seem to have no clue.

It was a crap joke, FWIW I had no idea jada had alopecia, I dont tend to follow celebs and if I did shes not top of my list. The few times I've seen her I assumed it was her way to have super short hair.

And the Oscar's is well known certainly after Ricky Gervais really went to town on them. Some of his jokes had silence after them they were that bad, but no one got up to hit him. Civilised society doesn't do that.
If WS was truly upset and wanted to show that, his speech could have taken it on and shamed CR and the Oscar's for roasting attendees every bloody year.
It's still stale and male if not so pale this year.

’Turn the other cheek' is advocating a non violent response to offence, not promoting violence. It is the passive resistance, non escalation response.

Yes, I know. I posted it to show that it was necessary to preach that. Sorry if that wasn’t clear, although I’m not entirely sure it could be read as an exhortation to violence.

@VampireMoney

Look up counter transference, it’s what you’re currently engaging in.

Anybody who sympathises with WS in your eyes is an abuser.

Therapists have to be aware about the issue but it’s also possible for the lay person to engage in it with others, particularly after trauma.

Definitely staged. WS was laughing at CR's gi Jane joke, then did the deed and as he walked away he was smiling.
Pathetic

@Doubleraspberry I'm sorry - I read it as you saying the opposite - on re reading I can see I was mistaken. My apologies. And I totally agree with your anti violence views.

That’s OK. I won’t lamp you this time. I could have been clearer. Like the username by the way.

Thank you, - I feel if you've been shoved downstairs you deserve a bit of publicity !

After watching it I find the whole incident very odd. All of it very odd. No security at all, the unfunny jokes, WS effing and blinding, the slapping, strolling up to CR quite calmly.
CR stood alone afterwards still trying to make pathetic jokes. It’s all bizzare.

CR is going to be in the shower tomorrow when WS pulls back the curtain.

Dallas not Psycho

Well, I really didn't see the entire thing until now. Will Smith screaming from his seat is worse than the hit. and I agree with everyone who says there no way that was staged.

I cannot believe he was not escorted out of there and was allowed to continue on like he'd done something perfectly fine. It's like there are no grownups in the room.

His mother, wife and daughter have all sported that haircut. I think whatever he is angry about went way beyond the GI Jane comment.

@Rubyupbeat

Definitely staged. WS was laughing at CR's gi Jane joke, then did the deed and as he walked away he was smiling. Pathetic

It’s very strange indeed and I wonder too if it was performative.

WS was smiling after he walked away from CR rather than looking upset but then ranted at CR when seated again.

Dh says that WS wouldn’t have tried that shit if the other Rock (Dwayne Johnson) had said what CR said.

Shame that it detracted from the other wins of the night and even his win and the opportunity to celebrate the Williams’ story.

I get the fact that he was initially laughing at the joke. Probably not paying 100% attention but laughing along politely for the cameras. He probably didn't immediately understood the reference but then looked at his wife and realised what CR meant.

Sometimes the brain takes a while to process things.

@Maggiethecat - it was entirely "performative", because he was putting CR in his place, and letting everyone know he is still top dog.

I don't care if others think it's extrapolating, I know exactly what I think this man is like. And everyone else has seen it, and chose to ignore, defend, obfuscate. That's up to them.

It was primeval

Will Smith seemed to forget space and time and just lashed out at Chris Rock as a primeval urge to shut him up after upsetting Jada with what was a debased comment.

It was just utterly raw, unexpected and confusing for others to watch bearing in mind where they were, in front of millions of live viewers.

After watching it I find the whole incident very odd. All of it very odd. No security at all, the unfunny jokes, WS effing and blinding, the slapping, strolling up to CR quite calmly.
CR stood alone afterwards still trying to make pathetic jokes. It’s all bizzare

Yes that's what I thought. Very bizarre - watching the whole incident and then CR stood alone on the stage, looking from side to side but carrying on with the weird jokes. No one intervening. His face must have been smarting. Maybe security were confused and thought the punch was staged, but the effing and blinding can't have looked staged. No one stepped in. Very odd to watch.

Yes, I also thought it was staged due to the fact that nobody stepped in and did anything. I'd have thought a spontaneous attack would warrant intervention from security. Surely the place is absolutely crawling with well trained security?

Seems sincere.

Shocking how many people on here, women I presume as it’s Mumsnet, are supporting violence if someone says something you don’t like (dressing it up as a man honouring and defending his wife) - then justifying it by saying it’s not the same as domestic violence. The only time violence is justified is if your life is in immediate danger and it’s literally the only way to survive.

@BellePeppa

Shocking how many people on here, women I presume as it’s Mumsnet, are supporting violence if someone says something you don’t like (dressing it up as a man honouring and defending his wife) - then justifying it by saying it’s not the same as domestic violence. The only time violence is justified is if your life is in immediate danger and it’s literally the only way to survive.

Totally agree.

It's still so shocking.

The Smiths are a screwed up family.
Their children have to listen to them publicly talk about their business and who they do / don't have sex with.

They are a mess. Will Smith's behaviour was a mess.

As a PP said, you do not hit someone unless in self deference / extreme threat.

That's a golden rule of a civilised society.

The Academy are at massive fault here. To allow this to go unchecked on the night, and go on to present his award to him in person, was the wrong call.

At a minimum, he should have been escorted from his seat.

Wrong call by them.

Drama Llamas!!

A drama llama is a person who over-reacts to everything. They like the drama/stress and will cause trouble or fights with their friends, family, and co-workers.

@EinsteinaGogo totally agree with everything you wrote. The Academy should have taken action but didn’t.