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Original poster

I'm going to say it: There's a class divide in the Will Smith incident

266 replies

blockbustervideo · 28/03/2022 20:10

I have a wide social circle.

What I've noticed today on social media is those from blue collar/working class backgrounds are defending Will Smith's actions, the women saying "he's a real man" "that's what men should do", "he was defending her" and those from white collar backgrounds/middle classes completely condemning Will's actions as pure unadulterated violence/assault.

Both obviously agreeing Chris' joke was in bad taste and not funny.

What's everyone else's experience been from their social media reactions?

OP posts:
Eyedropeyeflop · 28/03/2022 20:58

I would agree.
Working class here and certainly at the school gates today (working class area) we all felt it was rather amusing.

Although I do have a few degrees, a professional career but quite clearly you can’t take the council estate out of me.

So yeah. I would agree.

MistySkiesAfterRain · 28/03/2022 20:58

Before anyone says no I don't agree with hitting anyone.

MoonOnASpoon · 28/03/2022 20:59

I also think there's a difference between having a shaved head that looks like a stylish choice, and looking patchy / unwell. She looked good and so (if it was genuine and not a set-up) it was a joke that could have worked / been taken as silly banter (not that it was funny anyway, but whatever). Depending on their relationship and so on. If she wasn't happy, then it failed and was misjudged.

It's become a thing though, to mock the audience and make very close to the bone jokes about them. And that's what's expected. So only a matter of time before it turned nasty.

If it was a set-up, why such a crap one? What was the desired aim? Couldn't they have come up with something less excruciating? And was she in on it, because if not that's even worse!

SpicePumpkin · 28/03/2022 21:00

I've not seen anything on social media. I am, as you say 'working class' but had a very affluent 'middle class' upbringing. Both in the wrong completely. Chris Rock is an arsehole, he deserves to be called out on his crap bullying jokes. Verbally maybe but not assaulted. Though I'm surprised it's taken this long. Hopefully he will learn a lesson about how his shit 'jokes' are just that, shitty. Will should not have attempted to assault him. I didn't like his shouting either. It was very aggressive and not very dignified. But I can understand why he was so angry. He obviously loves his wife and has seen the struggle she's had with her alopecia on a personal level. Not just what she's posted on Instagram.

LadyHooHa · 28/03/2022 21:00

I'm too posh to use social media, OP.

I'd never heard of either of those men, either.

JustPlainKnackered · 28/03/2022 21:01

@M0rT
Mine too.

Pieceofpurplesky · 28/03/2022 21:01

If it was the first time Chris Rock had been outspoken about JPS then maybe possible perhaps it could be seen by some (very few) as a compliment. However it was not and he has been known to make comments about her before. On the back of the shit show of the BAFTAS where JPS was slated again - maybe Will Smith has had enough.
Wrong to hit him but if you are going to pile on the nasty comments then you have to expect a comeback. There's a thin line between banter and bullying

Clockstooforward · 28/03/2022 21:02

@Pizzadreams

Oh and I’m middle class and in my fifties and as much as I don’t condone violence I absolutely understand why he slapped him, what was said was so utterly unacceptable and for me is the worse crime by far,

He took the piss out a woman who has alopecia for having no hair, in front of the world. I have to be honest and say what Chris did was way way worse than what will smith did.

I could have written this post ! He basically humiliated WS wife in front of the world! Am not a physically aggressive person but I can see why WS reacted how he did !
Clarabe1 · 28/03/2022 21:02

Hair is a sensitive subject, very personal. I wouldn’t be impressed and if I was Jada I would probably have walked on that stage and whacked him myself but then I am from a working class background and up for a good fight.

custardbear · 28/03/2022 21:03

I know nothing about JPS but feel it's refreshing she's been upfront and open about alopecia and sone sufferers may have got support via her openness.
Chris Roxk has proved that opening up about embarrassing or hard to talk about issues can lead to ridicule - he's pushed back people opening up about conditions, which is sad day
Will got up and walked on stage, he was committed to do something then - bad choice, it could have been a better choice, but I guess he saw red and poor split second decision. Violence is very rarely the correct choice, in fact it's only correct when there is no other choice, he had other choices last night

Hausa · 28/03/2022 21:03

Everyone in my (pretty solidly middle class) social circle thinks it’s absolutely hilarious. Nobody particularly cares. I haven’t heard anyone defend or vilify either party.

Personally, I think Will behaved oddly, but Chris Rock is a dick. I cannot summon up any indignation either way and I think it’s hilarious that this is global news.

Fairyliz · 28/03/2022 21:04

I think it’s less to do with your background and more to do with your experience.
I was bullied for two years until one day I turned around and belted one of the bullies in the face.

I’m not quite sure where it came from as I was a quiet, shy skinny little kid.
I was never bullied again; guess what lesson I learnt from that?

Bangolads · 28/03/2022 21:05

No idea what you’re talking about- the only person I’ve chatted with about it is my son and no one has mentioned on Facebook. I hate violence and toxic masculinity but I think he was so appalled he lost his mind. He was provoked horribly. Chris Rock’s comment was just another vein of toxic masculinity. I think we’ve all learned how damaging bullying is and that’s exactly what it was. The culture of comedians just saying awful things as ’jokes’ is toxic. WS’s slap is a ripple in a much much bigger ocean.

Menstrualcycledisplayteam · 28/03/2022 21:05

I'm middle class by profession, working class by upbringing - I think Chris Rock had it coming; it's not the first time he's gone after JPS, perhaps he'll think twice about it next time (and about doing it to any one else). What I think is odd is Will Smith's anger arc; laughing along to begin with, then being angry enough to physically assault someone on one of the biggest nights of his life, then walking back to his seat to sit down and then still being angry enough to carry on shouting. There are some fairly significant issues there, I imagine.

MoonOnASpoon · 28/03/2022 21:05

As for the class element, I'm a bit of both (WC and MC) by background, and I don't think it's OK. I do think hitting is OK is some extreme circumstances but absolutely not because of taking offence, and even more so not to defend your woman's honour - as PPs have said it just embarrasses her and makes the man look a dick. In this case it makes WS look insecure and nasty.

Clarabe1 · 28/03/2022 21:05

On a side note - I have yet to see a patch of alopecia on Jada’s head? There are no shiny bits which there would be if she had alopecia.

BloodyloveGeorge · 28/03/2022 21:08

That’s BS. I’m WC and think he was awful.
I’m seeing more of a male/ female divide actually…

Frollop · 28/03/2022 21:09

I think Will Smith and his wife may seperate in the future...I don't think he's happy with the open marriage or whatever they agreed.

I'd prefer a presenter who didn't insult others. Just treat people with respect... you're getting so much to do your job!

People shouldn't emotionally or physically hurt others.

It's sad this happened in what should have been such a happy day for Will.

I wonder if Chris will stop insulting people...I doubt it... he'll probably get booked more with all the publicity!

MoonOnASpoon · 28/03/2022 21:09

Maybe they've got previous between them - hey maybe she had an affair with CR and dumped him and he's bitter.

IvorCutler · 28/03/2022 21:09

I’ve seen lots of comments about Jada cheating on Will. I thought they had an open relationship?

TheNameOfTheRoses · 28/03/2022 21:10

@Clarabe1

Hair is a sensitive subject, very personal. I wouldn’t be impressed and if I was Jada I would probably have walked on that stage and whacked him myself but then I am from a working class background and up for a good fight.
You see I’d have much less issue with her doing that because she was the one being insulted. (And that’s where the comparaison with bullies and us telling our children to hit back come into play).

But for HIM to get up? Why? Does he think his wife isn’t able to defend herself so he has to step up?
I mean I understand that this is a sensitive issue, esp for her. But I’m also pretty sure she can hold her own and defend herself.

Redbluelellow · 28/03/2022 21:11

Yes this fits with the reactions to my social circle too op

Ohfgsnotagain · 28/03/2022 21:11

Because all working class people are uneducated, knuckle dragging scum that like a fight!

My god I’ve heard it all now!

I have real working class friends, yes people who work in blue collar jobs (shock horror I actually mix with them!) and then I have respectable friends you know the kind that have white collar jobs so clearly more respectable than the blue collar kind...and they all thought both Chris Rock and Will Smith were in the wrong. They all said the joke was in bad taste and humiliating for her especially at such a public event but Will Smith shouldn’t have hit him. Will Smith did seem overdone with emotion so whether there was more going on behind the scenes who knows.

Random789 · 28/03/2022 21:12

I have alopecia (actual pic of me: Smile) and I don't think Rock overstepped, given that the person he compared her to looks very lovely with a shaven head. Also, if someone made a genuinely hurtful remark about my hair(or lack of it), I wouldwant DH to give me a handsqueeze and a silent "You ok my love?" look, rather than to peacock about with his fists.

I was struck by the words WS used - "Take my wife's name out of your mouth," as if no man should comment on 'his' woman. I think it was his sense of masculinity that was hurt, by someone who (in his mind) seemed to disparage the status he feels himself to have gained by having a beautifl partner. I think it was f*ck all to do with supporting his wife.

HelloDulling · 28/03/2022 21:13

@strawberrycheesecake1989

I don’t understand why so many people including WS think that Chris rock’s reference to G.I. Jane was in bad taste? Demi more is absolutely stunning in that film with that shaved head. If I had shaved my head due to choice or alopécia - being compared to G.I. Jane would be a compliment!!
Hair loss is extremely distressing, especially for women but also for men. It’s just so bloody noticeable.

Someone drawing attention to your bald or patchy head is enormously upsetting, even if you have shaved it to preempt the patches. I have trichotillomania; I can still hear the words of others ringing in my ears from 30 years ago.