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Original poster

Male violence at the Oscars

206 replies

RoseslnTheHospital · 28/03/2022 09:23

Is anyone else disappointed at the reaction to Will Smith's display of aggression at the Oscars? I am really surprised that they didn't have any security staff to remove him from the room when it was apparent what he had done. Everyone there just seemed paralysed into inaction. And then to see all those other men (Denzel Washington, Tyler Perry, Bradley Cooper) consoling and reassuring him, rather than escorting him out.

I'm also disappointed by the wider reaction, with so many people justifying his behaviour due to the (unfunny and vile) joke about his wife. I also think that it's a massive shame for Venus and Serena, that he has won an Oscar for a film about their lives, and yet this is the focus.

OP posts:
AlexaShutUp · 28/03/2022 09:28

I'm so disappointed in the whole thing tbh. I really liked Will Smith but wtf? ShockSad

And yes, I totally agree regarding the reactions of others around. It seems unbelievable that he was allowed to get up and do an awards speech after having assaulted one of the presenters just minutes earlier. I can only assume that they were all in shock and not thinking straight?

What a way to ruin your big moment?!

Flyingteaspoon · 28/03/2022 09:34

Beyond disappointed. And I agree it will have ruined the award for the Williams sisters too because this is all anyones going to be talking about. Says so much that his behaviour was justified on the grounds he was ‘defending’ his wife. It was a shitty joke but a much worse response that was seemingly sanctioned. Smith should have been told to leave.

AgentCarterRocks · 28/03/2022 09:41

While I abhor violence, I would have had more of a problem with Will Smith being removed from the event for unreasonable behaviour, unless Chris Rock was also removed from the event for unreasonable behaviour - mocking Java Pickett Smith.

If she had had a stroke, and now walked with a stick, and he'd made a comment about Willy Wonka, or had a massive surgery scar and he made a comment about Blofeld, he would have been considered well out of order. Why would it be okay to mock her appearance because of alopecia?

I don't condone what Will Smith did but he knows better than us how she's been coping with her diagnosis and I can well imagine that he felt he needed to do something when he saw the look on her face.

BeforeGodAndAllTheFish · 28/03/2022 09:43

Will Smith has slapped reporters on the red carpet before. Never that but a slap, but if they ask questions that he doesnt like, he has reached over and given them a sort of, warning slap. And then gets pulled away by the reps he has walking along the carpet with him.

It isnt new behaviour from him.It's justthe first time he has done it quite so spectacularly and to another star rather than a reporter.

Nobody is going to care in a few days. He wont face any consequences.

Will's early career was just a whole load of making jokes about black women. Jada has said some not nice things about other actors and actresses. It's the business. Chris may have gone too far but Will should have waited and used his speech to talk about alopecia and the hurt that is caused by mocking someone with a medical condition they cannot control or change. But, as he usually does, he just went for the slap. And nothing is going to happen to him because he is Will Smith.

tabbycatstripy · 28/03/2022 09:44

It's how woke power works. He's popular so he'll get away with it.

What a terrible example for young people he is.

BeforeGodAndAllTheFish · 28/03/2022 09:44

*never that big a slap

tabbycatstripy · 28/03/2022 09:45

'While I abhor violence, I would have had more of a problem with Will Smith being removed from the event for unreasonable behaviour, unless Chris Rock was also removed from the event for unreasonable behaviour - mocking Java Pickett Smith.'

You can't put a joke on the same level as physical assault. Rock was hired to make these sorts of jokes. Everyone knows the event will include jokes that roast people (rightly or wrongly) and nobody has to go.

Original poster
RoseslnTheHospital · 28/03/2022 09:48

@AgentCarterRocks

While I abhor violence, I would have had more of a problem with Will Smith being removed from the event for unreasonable behaviour, unless Chris Rock was also removed from the event for unreasonable behaviour - mocking Java Pickett Smith.

If she had had a stroke, and now walked with a stick, and he'd made a comment about Willy Wonka, or had a massive surgery scar and he made a comment about Blofeld, he would have been considered well out of order. Why would it be okay to mock her appearance because of alopecia?

I don't condone what Will Smith did but he knows better than us how she's been coping with her diagnosis and I can well imagine that he felt he needed to do something when he saw the look on her face.

But this comment is condoning violence. You're saying you'd be unhappy that the perpetrator faced immediate consequences for violence, and that the violence is understandable because of the comments made about Pinkett-Smith. What is that if not condoning??

There is no need to assume that those objecting to the violence support the comments made by Chris Rock. It was a "joke" that was about as funny as a bucket of cold sick. He shouldn't have said it, it was a case of "punching down" to joke about a woman with a medical condition.

OP posts:
PutinIsAWarCriminal · 28/03/2022 09:49

I think public bullying by presenters has been a problem for a while. So called comedians, like all these American chat show hosts, get cheap laughs by humiliating their guests or audience. Every one is supposed to be a good sport and laugh along whilst dying inside. Well this time he picked on the wrong family.

Clymene · 28/03/2022 09:50

Violence is never okay. Never.

That was not about defending Jada's honour either, it was about protecting Will's ego. He was shouting 'my wife'. Not Jada but 'my wife'. She is a possession, and Rock dissed her.

Will Smith is an aggressive violent man and I'm appalled that anyone condones his behaviour.

No wonder we have such an epidemic of male violence in our society.

tabbycatstripy · 28/03/2022 09:54

'Will Smith is an aggressive violent man and I'm appalled that anyone condones his behaviour.

No wonder we have such an epidemic of male violence in our society.'

I'm horrified by the number of people who are making excuses for him. It's just ego. Imagine how he behaves when nobody is watching.

tabbycatstripy · 28/03/2022 09:55

'Every one is supposed to be a good sport and laugh along whilst dying inside. Well this time he picked on the wrong family.'

Nobody has to go to comedy shows. Jokes have targets quite a lot of the time and I bet Will Smith laughs when it's other people.

PutinIsAWarCriminal · 28/03/2022 09:57

Nobody has to go to comedy shows. Jokes have targets quite a lot of the time and I bet Will Smith laughs when it's other people. I just don't like bullies. I'm not saying punching someone is right, but one day it was going to happen.

SpringHasSprungYay · 28/03/2022 09:58

I can't believe they let him receive an Oscar after that.

Where were the security guards? Why didn't they remove him for assaulting someone?

Original poster
RoseslnTheHospital · 28/03/2022 09:58

Well, quite. Chris Rock did him a favour too by remaining calm and continuing without escalating the situation.

I don't know how it works in the US, but could Smith be dealt with by the police even if Rock doesn't report the incident to them?

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Huckleberries73 · 28/03/2022 09:59

This reply has been withdrawn

This has been withdrawn by MNHQ at the poster's request.

SpringHasSprungYay · 28/03/2022 10:00

I'm horrified by the number of people who are making excuses for him. It's just ego. Imagine how he behaves when nobody is watching.

This. 😢

tabbycatstripy · 28/03/2022 10:02

'I just don't like bullies. I'm not saying punching someone is right, but one day it was going to happen.'

I think Will Smith acted like a bully more than Rock did. He swaggered up there knowing he is incredibly wealthy and Hollywood powerful, and nobody was going to stop him. Would a stage assistant have got away with it? Would someone less high profile have got away with it?

PutinIsAWarCriminal · 28/03/2022 10:09

Would a stage assistant have got away with it? Would someone less high profile have got away with it? no and no, but neither has Will Smith, not in public opinion at least. My point is that that bullying and public humiliation happens all the time on stage, and every now and then the big mouth picks on the wrong person.

Clymene · 28/03/2022 10:09

Nimco Ali is on Women's hour now talking about this. She is talking about what he does in private if he behaves like this in public.

Original poster
RoseslnTheHospital · 28/03/2022 10:12

So far Smith has got away with it. He wasn't removed from the ceremony, he wasn't arrested or charged with assault. He was reassured and consoled by other wealthy males and then allowed to remain and receive his award and given time to voice his justifications during his acceptance speech.

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tabbycatstripy · 28/03/2022 10:14

Of course he's got away with it. He's won an Oscar and had hundreds of thousands of hours' worth of attention. He hasn't been arrested (which is what should happen when someone is violent). So far he hasn't been sued. I hope he is.

Original poster
RoseslnTheHospital · 28/03/2022 10:16

I wonder who was in charge of the actual ceremony from the pov of the Academy, and why they seemed to be paralysed into inaction. It seems clear to me that someone could have had him removed, and arranged for someone else to receive the Oscar, and not allow a speech.

OP posts:
Itwasntmeright · 28/03/2022 10:17

Notice despite him kicking off to defend his wife’s honour, he’s managed to make this all about himself. Nobody has heard a peep out of her or seems to give a shit how she is feeling.

And yeah, if he can belt somebody on stage at the Oscars in front of an audience of hundreds of millions, what is he like in private?

The joke was tasteless, but yet again it’s a man using a woman to justify his violent reaction.

Holothane · 28/03/2022 10:19

Not a fan of him since I never saw this can’t comment but he’s has slapped someone he should be off the stage. I feel for his wife though unfunny joke.