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AIBU?

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Original poster

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.

OP posts:
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5
VladmirsPoutine · 28/03/2022 19:03

I knew this would the position most posters would take. I love it when white liberal women get sanctimonious. He's a danger to his wife! His kids! He's a role model! Put him on death's row!

I'm ashamed to say I was waiting to get home to log in to see this because I bet with my friend £50 this would be the tone of MN! Grin

whumpthereitis · 28/03/2022 19:05

I’d suspect that the thinking is that violence against black men is okay if they are perceived to be asking for it, but never against white women

More likely that it’s because of the equally matched man to man dynamic, versus the man to woman one. I doubt he’d have done that to a black woman either, or, for example, a black man in a wheelchair.

Chris Rock has been coming at Jada for years now, and on this occasion it backfired on him.

Angiemum24 · 28/03/2022 19:05

Chris rock is a low bottom of the barrel bully comic. Will was right!

Mumofboys109 · 28/03/2022 19:05

No. All that will happen is people will moan racism

Coffeepot72 · 28/03/2022 19:05

I’m not a believer in violence however Chris Rock was publicly humiliating a lady with a medical condition. So am I allowed to say he deserved a slap?

Motherdare · 28/03/2022 19:06

I think the show should have been paused (yes I know, advertising etc). He should have been removed from the building and they should have said “we will not be announcing the best actor category this evening. The winner will be informed by post.”

Blossomtoes · 28/03/2022 19:08

@Coffeepot72

I’m not a believer in violence however Chris Rock was publicly humiliating a lady with a medical condition. So am I allowed to say he deserved a slap?
You’re allowed to say it. I don’t agree with you. There’s never a justification for violence.
NumberTheory · 28/03/2022 19:08

I don't agree that there has to be a strict separation of work and actions, though I don't agree with the cancel culture approach for one offs, differences of opinion or minor crimes.

My main objection to the Oscar being canceled in this instance is that the Academy Awards have deliberately brought in provocative presenters who make jokes at the audiences expense and this is a direct consequence of that. They create a high pressure environment and expect the stars to sit through insults smiling because of the cameras. I don't think that Will isn't responsible for his actions but I don't think they'd have happened if the Academy Awards wasn't trying to increase its viewership and so (they hope) relevance by using the stars as whipping boys. So for them to then act as moral guardians seems pretty hypocritical.

notanotheroneagain · 28/03/2022 19:09

No.
You were perfectly fine with the likes of Polanski and Allen getting awards. They also never took back the 80 awards from Weinstein.

Jada was ambushed with a pre-planned non-joke on a medical condition she could not help. This public humiliation was verbal/psychological abuse and can lead to severe depression or suicide.

sageandbasil · 28/03/2022 19:10

Will laughed before marching up there tho so he clearly thought it was funny. Neither were in the right

Livelovebehappy · 28/03/2022 19:11

@VladmirsPoutine

I knew this would the position most posters would take. I love it when white liberal women get sanctimonious. He's a danger to his wife! His kids! He's a role model! Put him on death's row!

I'm ashamed to say I was waiting to get home to log in to see this because I bet with my friend £50 this would be the tone of MN! Grin

This is the guy who has cheated on his wife multiple times. So please spare us the faux outrage. The man was laughing his arse off with everyone else seconds before he played macho man. They should have drug tested him - he was behaving irrationally.
Silverclocks · 28/03/2022 19:12

There was an interesting discussion on the radio earlier about how "we" weren't sure how we should react and how reactions may have been different if both protagonists were white or the roles had been reversed or if a woman or women were involved. How early reactions were WS is a good guy sticking up for his wife but then "we" realised you can't support violence etc.

Also that "the deal" with these ceremonies is that the stars turn up in their expensive clothes to eat fancy food and drink and be ribbed by the comedians, which apparently makes us feel better sitting at home in our PJs.

MuggleMadness · 28/03/2022 19:13

@BloodyloveGeorge

Seems like the Academy are now discussing stripping him of the award.
If they do, they'd better be ready for the backlash....

I don't give a rats arse about the Oscar's, but if they take one off a bloke who slapped, yes slapped, another equal sized, built bloke for taking the piss out of his wife, then they sure as hell need to be taking hundreds off of others who have done much worse!!!

LondonWolf · 28/03/2022 19:13

because I bet with my friend £50 this would be the tone of MN!

Sure you did Hmm

GreenTeaPingPong · 28/03/2022 19:14

What will the consequence for Will Smith be? I bet it will be precisely nothing. He'll just have to publicly apologise to Chris Rock (who he pointedly didn't apologise to in his tearful speech referencing god - bleurgh). He's much too big box-office and powerful in Hollywood to suffer any actual consequences.

I don't think they should remove his Oscar, as that is for is performance in the film, not related to his behaviour since it. But he should have been thrown out, and he should be condemned by all the luvvies.

Chris Rock's joke was nothing compared to what Ricky Gervais has said, for example. I don't think saying he's looking forward to seeing her in GI Jane 2 can be classed as 'verbal abuse'. Poor taste - yes.

Pawtriarchal · 28/03/2022 19:14

@EmpressCixi

you can't punch someone because they say something you don't like.

It’s true you can’t smack someone (it wasn’t punch) for saying something you merely dislike. But the joke was a two pronged attack on Jada Pinkett...the “GI Jane” was both referring to her alopevia medical condition and a biphobic slur regarding her sexuality (GI Jane was accused of being a closet lesbian just like Jada has been in the past when she came out as bi).

So while I agree one should not hit someone making biphobic or homophobic jokes using such slang based slurs, it’s a little more than “disliking” an acceptable joke that wasn’t bigoted in any way....

That’s a reach…
Mrsbrand2019 · 28/03/2022 19:15

OppsUpsSide

No, he slapped another equally matched male for making a joke at the expense of his wife 🤷🏻‍♀️

Agree with this too

VladmirsPoutine · 28/03/2022 19:15

This thread Grin

Has anyone checked because I'm sure he's a potential terror threat too! I think I also once saw him look askance at a cat!

I hope he never works a single day in his life again! He's actually worse than satan himself.

Oblomov22 · 28/03/2022 19:17

I completely disagree with Tea-marmite : "He defended his wife against an idiot saying twatty things about her. I applaud him. I don't condone violence but Rock was verbally abusing his wife."

Defending your wife verbally is fine. To hit someone is not ok. It's assault.

Pawtriarchal · 28/03/2022 19:18

@VladmirsPoutine

I knew this would the position most posters would take. I love it when white liberal women get sanctimonious. He's a danger to his wife! His kids! He's a role model! Put him on death's row!

I'm ashamed to say I was waiting to get home to log in to see this because I bet with my friend £50 this would be the tone of MN! Grin

I spend a lot of time trying to examine my own motivations and understand privilege, especially when it makes me uncomfortable, but using one rich black man hitting another rich black man at an event where rich people are celebrating themselves as another example of white women’s wrongdoings is losing me.
SmudgeRolls · 28/03/2022 19:18

He said something very horrible about his wifes medical condition that would be shown to the world

Chris Rock was out of order and deserved it

LuaDipa · 28/03/2022 19:20

@BloodyloveGeorge

‘ The only message it would send is that the Academy punish black men's violence while celebrating white men's’

Sorry, is that the OJ defence? In the past violent white men have escaped censure so now we need to give this man a free pass???
Or should the message be, no violence by ANyONE is acceptable?

Pp’s have explained that many white men have committed far worse acts and retained their Oscars. Is there a reason that you are so fixated on this particular case rather than the plethora of others? I can’t understand why this seems worse to you than, for example, unlawful intercourse with a minor.

I don’t condone what Will Smith did, but I can see how one’s emotions might get the better of them when someone is making fun of his wife based on the side effects of her autoimmune disorder. I think that he should have been removed from the ceremony but that didn’t happen and what’s done is done. He is likely kicking himself for behaving like this and souring one of his greatest professional achievements. Removing the Oscar would only serve as to make an example of him and in my opinion there are others who deserve to be made an example of far more.

Namechangehereandnow · 28/03/2022 19:20

Yes he should. His actions were despicable. There’s a difference between hitting someone right in front of you in the heat of the moment - and walking across a floor onto the stage with the sole, premeditated intention of physically abusing someone. Despicable.

Silverclocks · 28/03/2022 19:21

In the weird world that is show business, it wouldn't surprise me at all if it was all part of a plan to get them both maximum coverage.

Pawtriarchal · 28/03/2022 19:21

I’m pretty sure if I hit someone at an industry event I’d most likely lose my job and most likely there’d be police involvement. I would not have a spin machine all ready to smooth over the situation and ensure everyone continues earning plenty of money. We all know Will Smith, Jada and Chris Rock are going to come out of this just fine. Will and Jada will ultimate get some mileage out of it.