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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:
XingMing · 28/03/2022 21:36

Who are Will Smith and Chris Rock annyway? IDK and I don't care either..... an actor and a comedian... I don't care enough to have a opinion.

altiara · 28/03/2022 21:37

Watched the clip. Didn’t know Jada has alopecia so didn’t get the ‘joke’. Just thought comedians aren’t at all funny when they’re trying to be edgy.
Will on the other hand just looked violent after previously laughing. No build up to it.
Really weird.

XingMing · 28/03/2022 21:37

Sorry for the x2 post.

OldTinHat · 28/03/2022 21:38

I'm not on social media apart from MN so have only seen the links from here, but I wonder why WS went from smiling, then seeing his wife's face change and then resorting to such an extreme reaction 🤔 Something else is going on in the marriage that maybe triggered him? Just surmising.

Blossomtoes · 28/03/2022 21:39

How often have we told our kids to turn the other cheek only for the bullying to get worse. How many times have we resorted to telling our kids that if someone hits them hit them back harder

Never. Physical violence is never justified.

bellamountain · 28/03/2022 21:40

What a ridiculous post OP. I thought all the luvvies were fawning all over Will Smith after.

CurlyhairedAssassin · 28/03/2022 21:43

@OldTinHat

I'm not on social media apart from MN so have only seen the links from here, but I wonder why WS went from smiling, then seeing his wife's face change and then resorting to such an extreme reaction 🤔 Something else is going on in the marriage that maybe triggered him? Just surmising.
Maybe Will Smith shagged Demi Moore in the past? Grin
TabithaTittlemouse · 28/03/2022 21:44

I don’t have social media but people were talking about it in work today. One person argued that ‘Will did it because Jada is black and was standing up for black women everywhere because they don’t have a voice’ (not my opinion). This person is the sort to argue alone. Everyone else was of the opinion that violence is wrong regardless. Maybe if Chris physically attacked Jada you could understand but Will could have used his voice rather than his hands.

MsTSwift · 28/03/2022 21:47

It’s not right to hit anyone but if you do make insulting “jokes” about other peoples medical issues it’s a risk you take frankly.

Mummy1608 · 28/03/2022 21:47

Haven't rtft but yougov has actually checked and no there isn't really a class divide. Results sorted by social grade.

I'm going to say it: There's a class divide in the Will Smith incident
Mummy1608 · 28/03/2022 21:49

To clarify, both abc1 and c2de social class were more or less 20% it's acceptable, 60% unacceptable, 20% don't know/care

workworkworkugh · 28/03/2022 21:50

[quote strawberrycheesecake1989]@Pizzadreams i think you’re a bit silly. To call someone out on something is to imply that something has been exposed or revealed.

She has very openly discussed her alopecia and has said she shaved her head to ‘own it’.

CR literally said ‘when’s the next G I Jane 2 coming out’, in doing so, he compared Jada to an actress in a film who not only has a shaved head but is very beautiful.’

So yeah, bore off Grin[/quote]
I actually agree with you.
I usually prefer Will Smith over Chris Rock, but not with this.
Who's to say Chris Rock even knew about Jada's alopecia?
But to me, even if he did, he was complimenting her in a way, GI Jane is a strong badass woman.
Plus I've heard much much worse jokes at these awards shows that someone probably should have got a slap for, this was nothing!

I do think they should (could) have rolled their eyes and then addressed it privately.

user1471443411 · 28/03/2022 21:51

That's strange that Yougov are doing a poll on it, makes me think it could be a set up after all and it's an experiment to gauge public opinion for some reason or another.

BookkeeperBobby · 28/03/2022 21:52

I think how people view it is more nuanced than to do with class alone and more to do with the values one has around violence etc which also are complex.

Fwiw I think they both overstepped but also that the slap didn't come from nowhere and if you purposely push a person to their limit then sometimes it does not end well for you when they go over it which you should maybe factor into your decisions around how you talk to/about people.

Mummy1608 · 28/03/2022 21:53

@user1471443411

That's strange that Yougov are doing a poll on it, makes me think it could be a set up after all and it's an experiment to gauge public opinion for some reason or another.
No they're doing it as a response to a big news story. They do this for every big news story. It's a daily questions survey
Cherryblossoms85 · 28/03/2022 21:53

Anyone else would get done for assault and lose their jobs. There are plenty of wk people who see it as a massive signifier of how much power he has, nothing justified using it like that.

AhhhHereItGoes · 28/03/2022 21:53

@M0rT

I think I have an irreverent social circle, cause all I'm seeing are piss taking memes!
This!

I'm in the middle I think she. should've slapped him herself.

Or for Will to make a cutting, witty retort.

ldontWanna · 28/03/2022 21:54

You can say it... doesn't make you right.

In my (very wide) social circle opinions are split. Some think he's right and awesome (gag) , some think violence was not acceptable, some think it was all staged.

Moser85 · 28/03/2022 21:55

If Jada had did it then I think a lot of the conversation today would be about her being 'crazy', hormonal, hysterical and so on!

Kennykenkencat · 28/03/2022 21:57

Pizzadreams

strawberrycheesecake1989
Yea but she wasn’t compared to bloody Matt Lucas was she. She was compared to a beautiful actress who totally pulls off having a shaven head

Well let’s hope you never suffer from alopecia and go bald and have someone publicly call you out on it for a laugh

It wouldn’t bother me if I was being made fun of for looking like Demi Moore.

The joke might have missed its mark as I would think a lot of people wouldn’t have known about the alopecia. I had seen her with a shaved head in pictures but thought it was a fashion statement or for a movie.

I think what was really in bad taste was the fact WS made it all about him.
I really don’t think he did Jada any favours

NewHopes · 28/03/2022 21:58

Yes, Chris Rock's joke was below the belt, but was it the worst thing said that night (or any other night for that matter)? Part of the draw of these awards is for everyone to see a piss-taking host who roasts the celebrities. And Will Smith laughed and clapped like a seal to begin with - he wasn't "defending her honour", he was defending himself and the fact that he was laughing along with a cruel joke at his wife's expense on a subject that is obviously deeply personal and sensitive in a room full of people and a televised audience of millions. And saying in his acceptance speech "Love makes you do these things" in reference to his violence is a horrible message to be sending out to the world and one that many abusive partners echo on repeat.

Hearwego · 28/03/2022 21:58

**Is crass and I cannot bear comedians taking the piss out of people who don't understand or are able to retaliate etc.

The reality is, comedy can be controversial and test boundaries of what’s acceptable and what isn’t.
Stand up comedy can be brutal- but you know that when you go and see or watch the comedian. If you’re easily offended, you wouldn’t watch them.

Of course Chris Rocks joke was in bad taste and done to the wrong audience, they did not go to watch his stand up routine.

Obviously there are “PC” comedians who don’t tell offensive jokes out there too.

If Will Smith hadn’t punched Chris Rock, I doubt much would have been said about the joke.

BrightOrangeOrange · 28/03/2022 21:59

@XingMing

Who are Will Smith and Chris Rock annyway? IDK and I don't care either..... an actor and a comedian... I don't care enough to have a opinion.
You don't know who Will Smith is? I don't believe you.
OverWorking9to5 · 28/03/2022 22:02

He really lost the run of himself. I don't think any class plans to lose control. Nobody thinks, I know, I'll get dysregulated and act impulsively and then make it clear in my speech that even though I clearly regret it I'm not taking responsibility and not apologising.......................... I'll just compare myself to a river, and a defender Confused I feel a bit bad for him for acting on impulse in front of so many people. Especially as I think he reaction was really borne out of his own laughter at the joke that his wife rolled her eyes at.

ldontWanna · 28/03/2022 22:03

@Kennykenkencat

Pizzadreams

strawberrycheesecake1989
Yea but she wasn’t compared to bloody Matt Lucas was she. She was compared to a beautiful actress who totally pulls off having a shaven head

Well let’s hope you never suffer from alopecia and go bald and have someone publicly call you out on it for a laugh

It wouldn’t bother me if I was being made fun of for looking like Demi Moore.

The joke might have missed its mark as I would think a lot of people wouldn’t have known about the alopecia. I had seen her with a shaved head in pictures but thought it was a fashion statement or for a movie.

I think what was really in bad taste was the fact WS made it all about him.
I really don’t think he did Jada any favours

Are you one of those women who also thinks that catcalling,wolf whistling and horn beeping are "compliments"?