Comedians often offend someone as part of their jokes so aibu to wonder if what Chris Rock said was actually that bad ?

[MisterRee]

Sort of playing devils advocate here, I’m a woman and I would feel humiliated if someone took the piss out of me on any stage let alone a world stage.
However, comedians are hired and/ or sold out because someone, somewhere finds them funny. Ricky Gervais roasted people much worse at BAFTAs etc.
Think of all the successful comedians, they probably don’t actually think the things they say… they do it because it is their job to do.

Maybe we should be angry at the Academy for booking comedians to present awards?

Aibu to think that the joke wasn’t too offensive compared to other comedic acts I’ve seen in the past?

Prepared to be in the wrong, just got me thinking

I've heard worse, but this was particularly personal.

Mocking someone for a medical condition is absolutely "that bad"

It wasn’t a joke, it was a dig at someone’s medical condition and their appearance because of it.

There was history between them from similar in 2016. He will have known it was an inflammatory remark.

Jimmy Carr says far worse in his stand up and doesn't get punched or slapped for it

My husband and MiL have alopecia. It's a very hard condition to come to terms with and it will have taken a lot for Jada to go such a bit event without a wig. In fact it will have taken a lot for her to go public about her condition as she could so easily hide it. I've never seen my MiL without her wig.

While being in the public eye does attract jokes etc picking on someone for a physical condition they can't help is a below the belt. I have also heard this isn't the first time he's aimed at Jada.

Will wasn't justified in his actions at all - violence never solves anything, but I understand how he felt.

I don’t actually think there is a right or wrong as comedy is subjective.
Some people have a very dark sense of humour, some a silly sense of humour, some have no sense of humour
My point is, comedy isn’t really what a person thinks so therefore isn’t real??

Comedy I guess is always a very contentious issue based on that perception of what is funny I guess

Even Ricky Gervais wouldn't be so offensive.

Mocking a woman due to her appearance which is caused by a medical condition? Not on.

I have a lot of physical things for people to comment on or laugh about and absolutely would be upset and offended if someone did that to me so do see that side too.
I’m just musing about comedy and where the line can be drawn if at all

comedy isn’t really what a person thinks so therefore isn’t real??

But the pain that the “jokes” can cause is real. If someone is regularly the butt of jokes then it can have a massive impact on them.

Too often things are written of as “banter” rather than the insults they really are. A line has to be drawn somewhere especially when in such a public domain.

YANBU- Even Will Smith was laughing at the joke until he saw his wife wasn’t.

I think if she had no hair because she was undergoing cancer treatment it would have been an absolute no go, im not sure why the reaction seems to be that alopecia is a grey area.

Even Ricky Gervais wouldn't be so offensive.

Mocking a woman due to her appearance which is caused by a medical condition? Not on.

He has done exactly that in the past.

www.theguardian.com/society/2010/apr/13/disability-joke-frankie-boyle

@MisterRee

I have a lot of physical things for people to comment on or laugh about and absolutely would be upset and offended if someone did that to me so do see that side too. I’m just musing about comedy and where the line can be drawn if at all

I think the line can be drawn in two places;

A person with alopecia making jokes about their experience of the condition - fine

A person making a joke about someone with their involvement / consent - fine

My partner has male pattern baldness and said that men being bald has been the butt of jokes since he can remember.

I think it was a terrible thing to say. If it was something in her control like her dress or shoes, fair enough. But he made a joke of something that was out of her control! Would he have said if she had alopecia because of cancer treatment? Or was disabled? I can see that having an injury because of an accident may be OK to have a laugh about....I broke my shoulder recently after falling from my bike and could deal with some ribbing around that but I'd be very hurt and upset if I had alopecia and was self conscious about it.

@MisterRee

My partner has male pattern baldness and said that men being bald has been the butt of jokes since he can remember.

Men in general or him specifically and in front of a huge audience...?

It wasn't that bad a joke. TBH it wasn't even a joke. Deeply unfunny. But Americans seems to take themselves so seriously. Especially the Hollywood luvvies.

I am thinking if this had happened in Britain- most probably it would have been laughed off. Or Chris Rock would have been heckled mercilessly.

Instead Will Smith was coming across all so Marvel comic hero. Just utterly embarassing

It must be awful to lose your hair, particularly for a woman. All the things I've seen online from JPS have shown her being pretty positive about it, although I'm sure that's not how she feels all the time.

I guess having it referenced like that isn't great but it's not like he came out with 'saved some time getting ready tonight then Jada, quick squirr of Mr Sheen and you're good to go'.

I thought her reaction...a massive eye roll...was very well pitched.

I think you're right. It was a nasty joke but not as bad as some I've heard. Nothing compared to the roasting Ricky Gervais gives celebrities. Are we sure Chris Rock even knew about the alopecia? Might he just have been mocking a hairstyle. Anyway it was a cheap shot but certainly not the worst I've heard!

Then can we also throw out all protective characteristics? Taking the piss out of the age of Brad Pitt's girlfriends, or the Meghan and Harry interview isn't the same as going after a medical condition that can't be changed. Behaviour is fair game, medical conditions, disability etc isn't. I think that the ending with 'that was a good one' pushed it to an absolute unacceptable level. I wouldn't watch Jimmy Carr, I doubt that he would be given free reign when hosting an award. This was a global event. They went after a woman's physical appearance caused by a medical condition.

Maybe if comedians stopped mocking illnesses and disabilities, less offence would be caused and said comedians wouldn't be attacked. I think Will Smith shouldn't have hit Chris Rock, but I understand why he did.

I wonder too, after all the offensive things that have been said, why this has cause so much controversy. It was a very personal attack, and we don't know how she copes when cameras aren't around. Also, other celebrities choose to take drugs or have much younger partners but she has no control over this.

Wish humour could go back to gentle ribbing rather than let's be as offensive as possible.

Oh yeh, it was definitely a woman taking herself too seriously.

He picked on a black woman with a medical condition that can wreck your self esteem. Way to go CR.

It was a poorly judged joke.

Will Smith's reaction was terrible though. Total loss of control. I think he must have been high/drunk to have reacted like that.

He must be so embarrassed in the cold light of day.

It’s nastiness for me hinges on whether CR knew she had alopecia or not.