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Original poster

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
AChocolateOrangeaday · 28/03/2022 07:36

He should be charged with assault and his oscar removed.

Covetthee · 28/03/2022 07:37

Jada has humilated will smith a lot talking of entaglements publicy and what not so i think he has had man ego bruised for a long time and become a laughing joke in hollywood, this was just his way of showing he is ‘man’

It was a distasteful joke due to her condition but it wasn’t that bad, GI jane is hardly ugly. He was doing his job, making jokes as a comedian.

Stravaig · 28/03/2022 07:38

The clip I saw started with Chris Rock referencing Javier Bardem and 'his wife' both being up for awards. The highly accomplished actress being stripped of individual identity is Penelope Cruz! Then Rock moved to Will Smith and Jada, no surname, and the Tank Girl/baldness/alopecia jibe. Rock is only referencing Jada Pinkett-Smith because she is the wife of Will Smith. No other reason. Then Smith punches Rock and launches into his tirade of 'Keep my wife's name out of your mouth'.

The jibe was vile and the punch wrong, but far worse to me is the sexism and misogyny riddling the entire incident. Women as appendages of men. Women as possessions of men. No names. No accomplishments. Wife. Wife. Wife.

Tyrozet · 28/03/2022 07:38

There's alot of discussion about whether Chris Rock deserved it, how upset Will was afterwards and how it's tarnished his win etc. etc.

I wonder how Jada feels about being publically mocked for her illness, and then her husband's reaction.

As usual - it's all about the men.

As a PP said, it's Jayda who has been disrespected.

Speakingmymind · 28/03/2022 07:39

It looks to me like he was on a knife's edge and that joke tipped him over the edge. Everyone knew that Oscar was his, there was no doubt about it. It should have been the night that topped his career. All I can think is he was tipped over the edge by the joke and he will be bitterly regretting the loss of control and his assault of Chris Rock.

HumousWhereTheHeartIs · 28/03/2022 07:40

@NdefH81 There has been no statement for Will Smith or Jada Pinkett-Smith. Their people weren't ready to react. Neither was The Academy who have effectively thrown Will Smith under the bus by saying they don't condone violence. That is not how they'd react if this were for PR. And there's no way Will Smith's agent and management would agree to this stunt which has overshadowed his win and played into a very racist stereotype. It's a PR disaster for Will Smith. The Academy is distancing itself. The person who could benefit most is Chris Rock.

LondonWolf · 28/03/2022 07:40

Mean joke, yes, but we can't all go around slapping people and screaming abuse at them in public for mean jokes can we? He appears to think he's in an actual movie at that moment Confused

Will Smith is an embarrassment. I've never really liked him - massive over actor with his I'm Tearing Up Because I Am So Full Of Emotion Face, which appears multiple times in everything he's in and looks exactly the same every time. I think it must be very hard to be his children - his son in particular seems throughly depressed and I believe sought to be emancipated from his parents though this was explained away as him resenting Will for giving him Bad Advice about his career.

Doubleraspberry · 28/03/2022 07:41

Some of the posts on this thread.

Chris Rock’s joke wasn’t remotely funny, and would have been hurtful to Jada. He’s joked about her before. Agree with PP that watching these digs is often really uncomfortable. Sheridan Smith has talked really eloquently about how devastated she was by a joke Graham Norton made about her at an event for example. I wish they’d stop it.

BUT Will Smith just hit him, hard, on the biggest night of his career, and then swore. Anyone who knows US TV knows that the swearing is almost as big a deal as the punch; you do not say fuck at the Oscars. That alone says this wasn’t planned.

There is no way on earth that Smith and Rock would have agreed to this. The sheer resonance of two men of colour in a physical fight on the Oscars stage? It’s horrendous. You can tell how many posters don’t get how much it matters that these are two men of colour.

And what is says about Will Smith? That lack of self control in the name of protection? Red flags everywhere. I can’t believe anyone is congratulating him, whatever the ‘reason’ behind. It’s toxic masculinity from start to finish. Do you think Jada wanted that to happen? She’ll have been devastated.

My first thought, when I heard about this on the radio, before I’d seen the footage, was that he must be on something. Actor takes drugs isn’t exactly surprising, but I won’t be the only one and it doesn’t boost your career. Steroids? Coke?

Basically, Will Smith has taken what should have been the pinnacle of his whole career and shat on it from a height. How can ANYONE think he would agree to be part of a set up that took him there?

LizzieSiddal · 28/03/2022 07:42

I’d be very surprised if this is the first time WS has hit somebody. I’ve lost all respect for him and feel incredibly sorry for Jada.

ZoyaTheDestroyer · 28/03/2022 07:42

@phishy

I seriously wonder about the judgement of those upthread who couldn’t see this was real.
In their partial defence they may have seen the clip from the American broadcast, which did the rounds first and was edited. The unexpurgated version is much less ambiguous.
Andante57 · 28/03/2022 07:43

@unname

They are actors. It’s just the Academy trying to do something about the consistently poor ratings. All while clearly having told everyone not to even bothering to say “Ukraine” out loud.
This
Swayingpalmtrees · 28/03/2022 07:43

If the purpose was to 'stand up' for his wife, then the right thing to do would be to educate others at the moment of acceptance of the oscar that Will knew was coming, to call out what was said, to tell the viewers the pain and suffering associated - that would have been far more powerful and evocative than punching someone in the face and swearing which will now forever tarnish his reputation and the creditability of the oscars is now questionable having awarded a man that has just assaulted another person on their stage.

The oscar needs to be removed, will needs to be charged and find another way to communicate his displeasure going forward.

Habitatty282 · 28/03/2022 07:44

ZoyaTheDestroyer not at all, that was my second post.

noodlezoodle · 28/03/2022 07:44

@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.
You think if someone makes fun of you, it's OK to assault them?
HelpINeeedSomebody · 28/03/2022 07:45

There's no way this was scripted because as others say what would be the point along with the fact no-one apart from possibly Jada comes out of this looking good.

If Jada and Will had got up and walked out then I'd have believed that to have been staged as Will would have been praised for sticking up for his wife and protesting in a dignified way. I don't even think Chris Rock would have suffered for that joke either as it would have led to lots of debates about what comedians can/can't say and if there is a line. That would have been good publicity,

This is all just a mess and Will has ruined his nice guy/laid back persona in an evening that should have been one of his greatest achievements as an actor.

Rainbowqueeen · 28/03/2022 07:46

I hope Jada is ok and that she is being supported.

The men can get stuffed. Hang them both out to dry.

drpet49 · 28/03/2022 07:47

* And what is says about Will Smith? That lack of self control in the name of protection? Red flags everywhere. I can’t believe anyone is congratulating him, whatever the ‘reason’ behind. It’s toxic masculinity from start to finish.*

^This

LizzieSiddal · 28/03/2022 07:49

Any bets on how this will now play out?
I suspect we will hear WS will be “recovering” with “exhaustion” at a “clinic”

MarshaBradyo · 28/03/2022 07:49

The anger after seemed real enough and the shock from Chris Rock

StooOrangeyForCrows · 28/03/2022 07:50

It's a pity Jada didn't get up and slap the twat. THAT would have made better sense and better TV.

PenguinIce · 28/03/2022 07:50

I am most shocked about Will getting a standing ovation for his ‘Love makes you do crazy things’ speech! That slap was not about love it was about male ego and anyone who stood up and clapped for him should be ashamed. If anyone deserves a standing ovation it was Jada for being the subject of a cruel jibe and for being married to a twat.

Trixiefirecracker · 28/03/2022 07:51

I honestly don’t think violence is ever the answer.

MrsLargeEmbodied · 28/03/2022 07:52

Chris Rock didnt even know it was for real until he had to rewatch and Be Told afterwards!

AngelicaSchuylerAndHerSisters · 28/03/2022 07:53

Anyone who thinks this was staged is crazy. I agree it initially sounded like a stunt, but when you see Will Smith on the uncut version - his fury, his swearing (which I agree is a massive no-no on US tv) and his self satisfied smirk, he looks so bad that I’m not sure he can recover. And surely a stunt would be followed by a bow and applause? Why would Chris Rock agree to be part of it? Why would a man at the pinnacle of his career risk his reputation like this? Why would the Academy choose misogynistic violence as a way to boost its ratings?

Habitatty282 · 28/03/2022 07:53

Swayingpalmtrees

If the purpose was to 'stand up' for his wife, then the right thing to do would be to educate others at the moment of acceptance of the oscar that Will knew was coming, to call out what was said, to tell the viewers the pain and suffering associated - that would have been far more powerful and evocative than punching someone in the face and swearing which will now forever tarnish his reputation and the creditability of the oscars is now questionable having awarded a man that has just assaulted another person on their stage

^This.

This would be the moment to be 'proud of my man'.