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Original poster

Will Smith/Chris Rock Oscars - where do you stand?

803 replies

Jaggerdagger · 28/03/2022 07:28

www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/entertainment-arts-60898250

I'm a bit on the fence at the moment but shocked from watching this - wondered what others think?

YABU Will Smith had every right to wallop Chris. His wife was clearly deeply insulted. He deserved it.
YANBU Chris was just reading from a script and didn't deserve such a public assault.

OP posts:
Bunnycat101 · 28/03/2022 09:27

The joke was unpleasant and should have been tackled in some way. The violence was completely unacceptable and he should have been escorted out Oscar win or not. It’s utterly farcical that he was allowed to then accept the award after assaulting the host .

CallMeDaddy58 · 28/03/2022 09:27

@queenofarles

I say bravo Will . that joke was completely unacceptable, it was on live TV , seen by millions the world over , were they supposed to just nod and then have a gentle talk with Chris ?
That’s the only two options is it? Punch him in the face and go on a swear word filled rant or nod?
DowningStreetParty · 28/03/2022 09:27

Chris Rock’s thoughtful documentary Good Hair is his take on American black culture and women’s hair. Sadly, he made it after his little daughter said to him that she thought she didn’t have ‘good hair’. So alopecia is a particularly sad and strange thing for him, of all people, to have publicly taken the piss out of a woman for. Will Smith shouldn’t have hit him though obviously. They both look like the sexist idiots that they are. Poor Jada.

DarleneSnell · 28/03/2022 09:27

Sick of seeing "WS was wrong to hit BUT... " Stop justifying it. He didn't lash out as some kind of reflex. First he laughed along, then he decided to stroll up and assault and humiliate CR in front of the world. So what if the joke was mean? It's words. Imagine how many deaths there'd be if we all lashed out to things we don't like hearing. This was a pathetic overreaction from a bully in an oddball one-sided relationship.

Even if he's allowed to keep the Oscar he totally threw away his own moment and reputation. What a fool.

Fleur405 · 28/03/2022 09:27

The premise of your question is a bit flawed in my opinion. Chris Rock likes to provoke people and yes he’s a bit of a dick but violence is never ok so no of course he didn’t deserve to be assaulted.

thecatsthecats · 28/03/2022 09:28

"Standing up" for Jada would have been saying in his speech "I'm so proud of how you've handled your alopecia".

But that relationship is toxic, and worse, they're one of those toxic couples who preach about how enlightened and above the constraints of normal relationships they are. Or possibly it's a self-deceiving lie because they can't face the fact that they're not very nice to each other after having declared themselves bonded for life.

Anyone seen the letter Willow Smith wrote to Tupac in Heaven wanting him to come back so that her mum could be happy? Tells you all that you need to know about the messed up dynamics in that family.

Mackmama · 28/03/2022 09:28

I understand why Jada was so upset, I have alopecia and if somebody made a joke at my expense in a global stage, I think I would react the same. Its a tough condition that can take its toll on your self esteem, even if you do appear to be ‘rocking it’ as she does. I wish Will Smith hadn’t reacted the way he did as now he’s kind of lost the moral high ground.

cherrysthename · 28/03/2022 09:29

I reckon he'd have decked him if it weren't for being on live tv as well. But he must've thought a slap wouldn't look as bad.
Someone on tv this morning said he was notoriously difficult to interview. I'd always thought quite highly of Will before this.

Winday · 28/03/2022 09:29

@ididntevennotice

Chris Rock has a learning disorder that has similarities with autism,

Well, what is it then?

Or have you just dropped autism to excuse him being a cunt?

Good old mumsnet Hmm

Well, no. But it's certainly a reason behind him making inappropriate jokes. The academy should've stopped it, because it was cruel if CR knew about Jada having alopecia. He needs to learn where the line is. Not an excuse, but a reason.
Neverendingdust · 28/03/2022 09:29

Hopefully Rock files charges against him. Glad that ‘nice guy of Hollywood’ mask has finally slipped off.

RockinHorseShit · 28/03/2022 09:29

I don't condone violence, but I'm with Will on this one, though it would have even better still if it had been Wills wife who got up & whacked CR one

Lineofconcepcion · 28/03/2022 09:29

Awful misogynist jokes, including the one immediately prior to this one. I completely understand WS's reaction and say good for him. Sometimes something is so horrible you have to call it out. CR really is a despicable human being.

AlexaShutUp · 28/03/2022 09:30

The joke was horrible and shouldn't have been made, but there is never any excuse for violence. The whole thing is just awful.

OutsideVoice · 28/03/2022 09:30

The joke was awful, but somewhat standard for the Oscars.
Will Smith should be arrested for assaulting CR, instead he’s consoled, given a standing ovation, has half the misogynistic world rooting for him and giving the green light for toxic male violence yet again, and no doubt he’ll come out of it all pretty much untouched.

It’s about time that violent men are punished for their actions, maybe then they’d learn some more appropriate responses.

daisyjgrey · 28/03/2022 09:30

The whole thing is embarrassing.

maddy68 · 28/03/2022 09:30

Team will. Although he should have been more dignified about it. No-one knows if his wife has to really pluck up courage to attend due to her appearance and then was the butt of a cruel joke.

Polyputthekettleon · 28/03/2022 09:31

Hope he gets arrested

Jellycatspyjamas · 28/03/2022 09:31

Demi Moore looked fucking amazing in GI Jane.

Demi Moore chose to shave her head for the role, JPS has no such choice and has been very public in how hard she’s found losing her hair. To hit on something that’s causing someone a lot of anguish, that they have no control over us cheap and as low as it gets. It was deeply offensive and I can understand WS anger about it. Violence is never ok, but the joke was appalling in the circumstances.

FMSucks · 28/03/2022 09:31

@BloodyloveGeorge - 100% agree with you. I've been on the receiving end of violence from two exes. I was told by both on numerous occasions that "I deserved it." I cannot believe the people defending Will Smith here.

CurzonDax · 28/03/2022 09:31

We are living in the age of social media. Will Smith could have easily used this to his advantage. Jada has been open about her struggles with alopecia, which is raising well-needed awareness about it.

Will could have easily posted something on his social media afterwards, along the lines of, "Am really pleased/proud of my Oscar win last night. Thank you ... What I am not pleased about however, is the poor joke aimed at my wife. This was a horrid dig at not just her, but all other alopecia sufferers."
He would have got so much support for that, and there would have been viral demands for an apology from Chris Rock, whilst opening up a good discussion online about alopecia.

Sadly, now Will Smith has turned it all into a joke on social media, as he made himself look like a complete dickhead.

Mariposa67 · 28/03/2022 09:31

People need to stop calling alopecia a disability. I suffer from it and while it's a distressing medical condition it's not a disability.

As for Will Smith - drugs, almost certainly. He was completely out of order, but perhaps this will see the end of this ridiculous Oscar tradition in recent years of the host mocking the audience. It's just not funny.

ToxicBuns · 28/03/2022 09:33

I think Will was perfectly justified slapping Chris Rock. He has always been a mouthy git and has a history of taking things too far. The look on poor Jadas' face, she was mortified and so, so upset. Will handled it just fine and the way they looked at each other afterwards was divine. Sometimes violence IS the answer. Well done Will.

oliviastwisted · 28/03/2022 09:34

A string on misogynistic jokes from CR got an overreaction from one of their husbands. The whole thing was unpleasant but given Hollywood’s penchant for promoting misogyny and male violence I would have said it was completely in keeping with the place.

Bunnycat101 · 28/03/2022 09:35

I’m really shocked at the team will stuff on here. He lost it and used violence. How many violent men say ‘she made me do it’ ‘she provoked me’ ‘she wound me up’ etc. the fault is with the person who lost control and resorted to violence. It cannot be condoned because the comedian was a dick.

LondonWolf · 28/03/2022 09:35

Just posted this on the other thread. Will looked altogether too comfortable dishing out that kind of one off slap to me. He didn't stay to fight, he didn't grab Chris R by his lapels or get in his face as most men I have seen fight start out a confrontation by doing. He walked onto that stage and dished out a big chastising slap and then walked away safe in the knowledge he'd not be challenged.

He's a disgusting, arrogant bully.