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Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

to think Will Smith should be stripped of his Oscar?

652 replies

BloodyloveGeorge · 28/03/2022 16:52

The Academy is supposed to have a code of conduct ( post Weinstein) so can take his Oscar away.
Given that this was a blatant assault, and a clear case of toxic masculinity at it's worst, he should lose his Oscar. He's not a role model, his behaviour isn't something that should be celebrated. There should be consequences for this example of violence.
Even a 6 year old knows you can't punch someone because they say something you don't like.

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HRTQueen · 29/03/2022 20:26

I think the reason a lot of people won’t stop going on about it is that most of our day to day not much happens. We are just as interested in who is wearing a nice dress than who wins and a bit of a scrape in such a dramatic way creates a bit of excitement

Celeb life is so far removed from ours add a bit of drama and it’s even more interesting

Of course the racism will play out we can’t deny that and of him winning

Next year maybe two actresses shall have a fight we shall all pretend to be outraged but we latch on to the drama of it all

GoodJanetBadJanet · 29/03/2022 20:27

For all the shit about Weinstein and RP there is no talk of stripping them of their awards
Agree, I don't remember any calls to take their Oscars away.
What's his Oscar got to do with anything anyway?
His work achievements have nothing to do with it.

LostFrog · 29/03/2022 20:31

I wonder what he would have done if the presenter had been a woman and not Chris Rock.

Pumperthepumper · 29/03/2022 20:32

@AllOfUsAreDead and for that, Chris Rock and Will Smith would agree to look like complete tools? Seems a bit of a reach.

AllOfUsAreDead · 29/03/2022 20:34

[quote Pumperthepumper]@AllOfUsAreDead and for that, Chris Rock and Will Smith would agree to look like complete tools? Seems a bit of a reach.[/quote]
Never know. The ratings dropped from 23million viewers in 2020 to 10million last year. It was well known they were desperate to bring them back up, and it wouldn't exactly be the first or last time a show has done something controversial to get ratings up. Usually they opt for a naked person running across the stage though, not violence.

Pumperthepumper · 29/03/2022 20:35

And the people they really want to get to watch it are random people in pubs with absolutely no clout in Hollywood.

southeastdweller · 29/03/2022 20:37

For all the shit about Weinstein and RP there is no talk of stripping them of their awards. But Black people it's a different story.

The code of conduct was set up little more than four years ago, so too late for Weinstein and Polanski.

Dameputtingonabraveface · 29/03/2022 20:39

The real story is that CODA won and no one is talking about it. The cast and crew are the real victims here, so many positives that no one is talking about. Instead two very mediocre, late middle aged men who have been part of the establishment for years are getting all the headlines.

What Chris Rock said was not okay, and the whole hosts roasting thing is outdated and boring. Yet this is what the academy book. Will Smith's response was really not okay. Casual violence is never acceptable and anyone finding an excuse totally undermines every parent, youth worker, probation worker, social worker etc who consistently tries to relay this message and get people to take personal responsibility. Yes- as humans we react to stuff and get upset. I think most of us know that assaulting someone else, however much provoked is not okay. We are not talking about years of abuse and degregation here and finally snapping (although there is history).

As PP have pointed out, the academy does not really have a great history in regards to their moral compass. I am not sure if it is reasonable to start now an take the Oscar back. However, in many walks of life people seen as exceptional in a field have been stripped of honours/reputation despite outstanding achievements when other things have come to light. Usually this has been the right thing because a person is more than their individual achievements and excellence in one area does not excuse being a total arsehole or psychopath.

Giraffesandbottoms · 29/03/2022 20:48

Agree, I don't remember any calls to take their Oscars away.
What's his Oscar got to do with anything anyway?
His work achievements have nothing to do with it

Because their Oscars and the unearthing of their crimes were years apart? It doesn’t feel relevant? If Harvey Weinstein won an Oscar yesterday and was accused of rape today I think there would absolutely be calls for him to be stripped of it.

Horst · 29/03/2022 20:48

Weren’t they removed from being members of the academy or some thing though? So no not removal of the actual award as such but again there terrible actions where way before the code of conduct.

That’s the problem theirs was before what will has done is after and actually at the awards to boot. We don’t not arrest people who rape their wife’s because we haven’t arrested everyone who did it before it was illegal we deal with it going forward. Many things are now seen as wrong or illegal that once where not punished we don’t not punish because once it wasn’t someone’s always going to be first.

I doubt he will be stripped of it likely purely because he is a black man and the outrage it would cause based on his skin colour alone not because they don’t want too.

Morfil · 29/03/2022 20:55

@VladmirsPoutine

For many of us, the Roman Polanski win and court case is somewhat before our time.

For Weinstein- I had never heard of him prior to the scandal becoming a major news story. Obviously he was a powerful figure in the industry, but I would not have thought him a household name. His solitary Oscar win was when I was still in school. I was not aware that he had even won one and had to look it up. I also suspect that, while his story was in the headlines, many were rather more focussed in seeing him tried and imprisoned than concerning themselves with his historic Oscar win.

Will Smith, on the other hand, I was able to see go up on stage to assault someone, then return to the stage shortly thereafter to collect an award.

I don’t think there is a single person saying that Smith’s actions are in any way comparable to those of Weinstein or Polanski, and most would be glad to see them lose their awards.

Yes I’m sure racism is driving some of the response to the Smith incident, but I think your position here is very simplistic (and I’m someone who usually agrees your posts on other threads, particularly concerning matters on race and intersectionality).

It is understandable that people react more instantaneously to current events than they do to historic ones, of which they might have no or limited awareness.

Blackmagicqueen · 29/03/2022 20:56

I think comedians get away far too much with offensive verbal diarrhoea, in the name of supposed humour and it has to stop. What Chris Rock said about Jada Pinkett Smith was absolutely disgusting. I believe he needed reprimanded and expelled from the academy himself. Could Will Smith have handled the situation differently? Sure but he is human and lost his temper as a result of seeing how alopecia has profoundly affected his wife and family. Yes he should have used words not violence as that is always inexcusable. I can certainly see it as a final straw followinf years of sitting smiling through offensive inappropriate comments like that one. It was also not the first time Rock has been disrespectful towards him and Jada.

Giraffesandbottoms · 29/03/2022 21:02

Also if you watch or read the most offensive jokes at the various award ceremonies it’s pretty split between white/black people and men/women.

Comparing the historic actions of Weinstein with something that happened at the award show itself really is apples and oranges. I think Smith should have received the Oscar I just don’t think he should have been allowed to stay at the party to receive it.

If I punched a colleague at the office Christmas do I would be escorted out (and probably fired), regardless of what joke they made.

Worth noting Rock is saying he didn’t know about the alopecia.

AllOfUsAreDead · 29/03/2022 21:03

@Pumperthepumper

And the people they really want to get to watch it are random people in pubs with absolutely no clout in Hollywood.
They don't really care who watches it. They'll say it's all for the movie fans, but they want high ratings, and if that means randomers watching, they'll be happy with that.
Mojoj · 29/03/2022 21:05

Chris Rock is lucky he only slapped him. So no, I don't think he should be stripped of his Oscar.

Pumperthepumper · 29/03/2022 21:10

Good of Chris Rock and Will Smith to offer up their reputations at the alter of Slightly Higher Viewing Figures for the Oscars.

spaceman1 · 29/03/2022 21:12

Hopefully his career is now over, what a horrible man.

StormzyinaTCup · 29/03/2022 21:16

Has Chris Rock apologised to Jada?

AllOfUsAreDead · 29/03/2022 21:19

@Pumperthepumper

Good of Chris Rock and Will Smith to offer up their reputations at the alter of Slightly Higher Viewing Figures for the Oscars.
Oh don't worry. Chris rock has probably done worse and Will Smith will comeback from this. They'll be fine with all their money and connections.
DoreenWinkings · 29/03/2022 21:20

@SwanBuster

I urge all the people continuously berating him to go and read the history of his and Jada’s relationship - then attempt to put yourself inside his head. Allow yourself to be immersed in the emotions and vitriol that you might speak to yourself if you were him.

‘You’re not man enough’

‘Pac would know how to please her’

Etc

Just try and learn empathy!

That's not Chris Rocks fault though is it?

And if his shit joke was the straw that broke the camels back as it were. Who are you actually blaming here? Jada? It's her fault Will hit Chris - because she's been embarrassing him and his notion of 'being a man' for years?

If he loves her enough to stay with her despite all that (and, frankly, that stinks of slut shaming and holding her responsible for his fragile masculinity) then that's on him.

Bugger all to do with Rock, he was mean. Will was violently aggressive, that is worse. It just is.

Pumperthepumper · 29/03/2022 21:22

People think they’re both arseholes! It’s not a quirky, funny sketch, it’s two grown men acting like dickheads. If the power of Hollywood wanted better viewing figures, I’m sure they could come up with something better than a shit joke followed by a shit altercation between two people. All for the vague hope that it might improve viewing figures in a year’s time.

Ionlydomassiveones · 29/03/2022 21:25

This reply has been withdrawn

This has been withdrawn at the poster's request.

flyingdream · 29/03/2022 21:38

Chris Rock needs to speak up and apologise to Jada. People are like but he didn't know she had alopecia...yeah and that makes it okay?

Blackmagicqueen · 29/03/2022 21:39

"You think he deserved worse than to be physically assaulted? For saying words? Wow."

Words are extremely hurtful too and shouldn't be downplayed.

Blackmagicqueen · 29/03/2022 21:40

"People are like but he didn't know she had alopecia"

I've heard he did know as it had been publicised.

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