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AIBU?

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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:
ancientgran · 28/03/2022 10:38

@Momicrone

Chickenstripper, 'pussy whipped'? What a horrible misogynistic phrase
It is a vile phrase.
Sharrowgirl · 28/03/2022 10:40

I am absolutely appalled that on a website founded by and for women so many are excusing male violence.

Winday · 28/03/2022 10:42

[quote ididntevennotice]@Winday

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.

What is the reason? I was asking what the reason is? What is the diagnosis? Because 'like autism' isn't a medical diagnosis and it's certainly no way to excuse behaviour like this. [/quote]
I'm not excusing it. He has a diagnosis of Non verbal learning disability. Having a learning disability which affects how you interact socially can be a reason for inappropriate jokes. I try to teach my son this daily. It's a struggle at times because he's getting older and seems as if he should already know. But it's not an excuse. If this is the case, he needs to recognise this and take steps to learn in future. Because his jokes aimed at (if he was aware of) other people's health are unacceptable.

YouOKHun · 28/03/2022 10:42

If she is understandably offended she can make an issue of it herself. The whole thing smacks of men sizing up to each other, waving their dicks around, one making a personal “joke” about a woman’s appearance and then another “defending his property”. The whole thing is pathetic.

Jellycatspyjamas · 28/03/2022 10:44

Chris Rick has built a career out of inappropriate, offensive jokes. I very much doubt he didn’t know exactly what he was doing. He’s targeted Jada Pinkerton-Smith before with his nonsense.

WizzardPjs · 28/03/2022 10:46

@Chishnfips

He's going to have to move in with his auntie and uncle in Bel Air.
Why? Because he got in one little fight?
TequilaShot · 28/03/2022 10:46

I've only just realised it was real. I thought it was completely staged! They are both in the wrong

BloodyloveGeorge · 28/03/2022 10:48

‘ Chris Rick has built a career out of inappropriate, offensive jokes. I very much doubt he didn’t know exactly what he was doing. He’s targeted Jada Pinkerton-Smith before with his nonsense.’

So? CR is known for this kind of humour. I didn’t think it was funny,
Nor did most people in the audience it’s seems but that doesn’t justify violence.

JesusInTheCabbageVan · 28/03/2022 10:48

@WizzardPjs not so much that, but because his mom got scared.

Nicholethejewellery · 28/03/2022 10:49

Will Smith comes out of this a lot worse. Attendees at ceremonies like this know that they are likely to be mocked or ridiculed by the hosts, it's part of the game. If they can't take a joke they shouldn't turn up. To resort to violence like that is disgusting, not that I'd expect anything better from Will Smith who I've long suspected has used his "happy go lucky" public image to hide the more disturbing aspects of his character.

ididntevennotice · 28/03/2022 10:50

He has a diagnosis of Non verbal learning disability

Non verbal? Come on now...

Goofbawl · 28/03/2022 10:50

@YouOKHun ^^this.
I do NOT need anyone to defend me if I’m being insulted or verbally abused. I am a grown woman and can stand up for myself and deal with the situation as I see fit.
If my husband reacted in the way Will Smith did, I would be absolutely furious.

WizzardPjs · 28/03/2022 10:52

[quote JesusInTheCabbageVan]@WizzardPjs not so much that, but because his mom got scared.[/quote]
Well his life has certainly got flipped turned upside down now

Jellycatspyjamas · 28/03/2022 10:53

@BloodyloveGeorge I was replying to @Winday’s suggestion that he didn’t know what he was saying would be offensive. I never said he deserves to be slapped for it.

Soffit · 28/03/2022 10:54

Staged by their agents but that is not to say they get on.

isthatanotherbastardgrey · 28/03/2022 10:55

Poor show on both counts

YouOKHun · 28/03/2022 10:55

I don’t watch the Oscars but I have watched Rick Gervais present award ceremonies and it’s interesting that he hasn’t ever been punched! I’ll have to watch the videos of RG again to see whether, despite the many more near the bone comments he makes, he never actually insults someone in that personal way. Or maybe he’s just got more command of the room so it stops that kind of reaction/interaction kicking off publicly? Or RG has just got lucky? Or RG is just much cleverer? He’s certainly funnier than Chris Rock.

Fairislefandango · 28/03/2022 10:57

Calling Chris out for offending his wife is fine, resorting to physical violence is not.

^This. He could have come out of this smelling of roses. If he had told Chris Rock off in a dignified manner, kept the moral high-ground, made it clear how inappropriate and offensive it was to make a joke like that about a woman suffering from a physical condition, everyone would be saying how wonderful he was.

The fact that he did not do so speaks volumes about how some celebrities feel entitled to behave, and the fact that they're probably so used to being able to do exactly what they want that they have no self-control in these situations.

Chishnfips · 28/03/2022 10:57

Why? Because he got in one little fight?

Yes, his mom got scared.

EvilGoldfish · 28/03/2022 10:59

My opinion of both men has completely reversed.

I used to think Will Smith was a charismatic and good man. No way can he be after reacting like that to a slightly off colour joke. He was aggressive, became violent and filled with rage so quickly, I wouldn’t be surprised now if it comes out that he is often physically abusive. A good man would have checked on his wife and whether she wanted to leave or stay, and voiced his displeasure at the joke at an appropriate time.

Before last night I didn’t really like Chris Rock. Just assumed he might be a dick in real life, though he certainly is not the most offensive comedian by a long shot.

Now? My estimation of him has shot through the roof.

The way he reacted to being hit, he obviously is not a violent man. It clearly shocked him but he made no move to retaliate or escalate the situation. He attempted to put the audience at ease and placate the violent angry man that had just attacked him, to calm the situation. THAT is how a good man reacts.

Whatafustercluck · 28/03/2022 10:59

Attendees at ceremonies like this know that they are likely to be mocked or ridiculed by the hosts, it's part of the game. If they can't take a joke they shouldn't turn up.

Actors etc who are there as nominees, yes that's true. This was directed at his wife who was there solely to support him. Is it only women who are fair game for jokes about their appearance?

Musomama1 · 28/03/2022 11:03

That joke was humiliating, you just can't make nasty public jokes about someone's medical condition, (which clearly made her uncomfortable), to their face and get the room to laugh along. Yuck.

Impressed Will Smith took a stand, bit shocked though that it was a punch.

He should have calmly called him out onstage, made Chris Rock apologise and look like a little man. Would have been far more effective, and I think this display of naked aggression has done Smith a bit of damage - might be the only Oscar he'll win.

However, nothing like a good Oscar drama right? I mean, it's not the real world for christ's sake.

HeArInGhandsgirl11 · 28/03/2022 11:03

@EvilGoldfish

My opinion of both men has completely reversed.

I used to think Will Smith was a charismatic and good man. No way can he be after reacting like that to a slightly off colour joke. He was aggressive, became violent and filled with rage so quickly, I wouldn’t be surprised now if it comes out that he is often physically abusive. A good man would have checked on his wife and whether she wanted to leave or stay, and voiced his displeasure at the joke at an appropriate time.

Before last night I didn’t really like Chris Rock. Just assumed he might be a dick in real life, though he certainly is not the most offensive comedian by a long shot.

Now? My estimation of him has shot through the roof.

The way he reacted to being hit, he obviously is not a violent man. It clearly shocked him but he made no move to retaliate or escalate the situation. He attempted to put the audience at ease and placate the violent angry man that had just attacked him, to calm the situation. THAT is how a good man reacts.

This!
FabulouslyFab · 28/03/2022 11:04

There’s no such thing as bad publicity I guess?
Jada looked fabulous with her shaved head and she was rocking it - just like Demi Moore did. I thought Chris Rock was paying her a compliment in a way and it was sweet. I’d love to know what the producers were saying into his earpiece after the slap!
I’m not impressed by Will Smith at all.

Jellycatspyjamas · 28/03/2022 11:05

The way he reacted to being hit, he obviously is not a violent man. It clearly shocked him but he made no move to retaliate or escalate the situation. He attempted to put the audience at ease and placate the violent angry man that had just attacked him, to calm the situation. THAT is how a good man reacts.

A good man wouldn’t have made an offensive, misogynistic joke at the expense of a woman with a distressing health condition. Your bar for “good” is pretty low.

Neither man came out of this covered in glory.