Let's talk about the Oscar slap...

[Wink]

I did not watch the awards, haven't in at least 30 years. I did not see the slapathon, but as a former U.S. Marine, the pictures I saw today left me feeling that this was an attention gathering device.

I have not been in a fight since I was surprise attacked in a bar by three American sailors one night in Rio de Janeiro back in the early 70's. My companions and I escorted two of them to the MPs and turned them in. We carried the third, turned his dumb self in too.

Wink

 

[DRSAMURAI]

I would have enjoyed seeing that. I especially enjoyed the 60 minutes segment when Lady Gaga sang with Tony Bennett who is suffering with Alzheimer's disease. I do not know much about her music but I am of the opinion that she is a classy lady.

It takes a classy person to know one.

 

[Daisys and Diamonds]

What really sucks the kumera
Is this has completly over shadowed everything else at the Oscers this year

 

[Daisys and Diamonds]

I think it qualifies as Battery, more than assault. I wonder if Smith could be charged by the state regardless of whether Rock participates in bringing the charge?

This is what Gary thinks too

I guess it's nice to talk about something other than covid or nucular war with Russia

 

[LLJsmom]

Violence is never the answer. This episode is more the result of the personal issues between Will and Jada, the entanglement that has been shared openly with the public, and society's response to it all. It's sad that Will's misplaced anger landed on Chris. He just got unlucky and lit a match in no man's land (between Jada and Will Smith). Will's response was a bit disingenuous as well, given that he only confronted Chris when he saw that his initial response of laughter did not meet with Jada's approval.

On another note, I totally agree with @mrs-b 's response. If I looked as good as Jada bald, and was thought to be the next GI Jane (a totally bad ass character), I'd embrace it. I'm not even sure it was meant to be an insult. (I'm probably the only person that feels that way. It's one of my favorite movies.)

The irony of it all is that Will is probably the one that is most damaged by the incident. So many people have praised Chris' classy and professional response, as well as his strength to barely sidestep from the vicious slap. His shows are selling out. He's got a ton of new material and I'm crossing fingers that Netflix will give him a new special. Will stole the attention from Questlove's Oscar moment. He distracted from the movie, the cast, the story of Venus and Serena Williams and most of all his own crowning achievement, winning best actor. It will all be associated with this unfortunate loss of self-control that has probably already been memed a million times already. And now parents will use this example of how you need to learn to "use your words" to kids that watched that scene unfold. SMH.

And, every time you hear "Will Smith, Academy award winning actor...OMG is he the one who slapped a comedian on stage?" Not Fresh Prince, not MIB, not Getting Jiggy with it. Nothing, just the guy who lost his mind on Oscar night.

 

[LLJsmom]

I don't understand why Smith was permitted to accept his award on air. An announcement should have been made about the winner and a statement given that due to the actions of Will Smith, he'd be given his award in private.

Too bad the producers weren't as quick thinking as you.

 

[Gloria27]

 

[Made in London]

These are actors.
Their greatest skills are faking emotions and actions and reactions.
And these guys are exceptional actors so their fakes are ultra-realistic!!
100% staged, IMO!!
And now they’re getting alllll the attention they wanted.

Of course it was staged. You can see him turn with the slap. Most people who are slapped in the face find it a shock & take it full on the cheek & don't have time to turn to lessen the blow like they do in a fight scene. totally staged in my opinion & like yessie said all done to spice up the oscars. The tears were acting too...

 

[Mreader]

Violence is never the answer. This episode is more the result of the personal issues between Will and Jada, the entanglement that has been shared openly with the public, and society's response to it all. It's sad that Will's misplaced anger landed on Chris. He just got unlucky and lit a match in no man's land (between Jada and Will Smith). Will's response was a bit disingenuous as well, given that he only confronted Chris when he saw that his initial response of laughter did not meet with Jada's approval.

On another note, I totally agree with @mrs-b 's response. If I looked as good as Jada bald, and was thought to be the next GI Jane (a totally bad ass character), I'd embrace it. I'm not even sure it was meant to be an insult. (I'm probably the only person that feels that way. It's one of my favorite movies.)

The irony of it all is that Will is probably the one that is most damaged by the incident. So many people have praised Chris' classy and professional response, as well as his strength to barely sidestep from the vicious slap. His shows are selling out. He's got a ton of new material and I'm crossing fingers that Netflix will give him a new special. Will stole the attention from Questlove's Oscar moment. He distracted from the movie, the cast, the story of Venus and Serena Williams and most of all his own crowning achievement, winning best actor. It will all be associated with this unfortunate loss of self-control that has probably already been memed a million times already. And now parents will use this example of how you need to learn to "use your words" to kids that watched that scene unfold. SMH.

And, every time you hear "Will Smith, Academy award winning actor...OMG is he the one who slapped a comedian on stage?" Not Fresh Prince, not MIB, not Getting Jiggy with it. Nothing, just the guy who lost his mind on Oscar night.

Perfectly said @LLJsmom.

 

[autumngems]

Ok, so now that I have more info, it looks like it was not an act.
Will Smith was worked up over the joke about his wife. He decided to act a fool, and disrupt the show.
Chris Rock was doing his job as a comedian, just like all the comics before him. Taking pot shots at other celebrities, as expected.

And Will Smith overshadowed the whole show and all the other winners with his antics.
So now the Oscars were all about him.
I wonder how much damage he did to his career.

Yep, he pretty much ruined the night for everyone else. Loser

 

[autumngems]

I did not watch the awards, haven't in at least 30 years. I did not see the slapathon, but as a former U.S. Marine, the pictures I saw today left me feeling that this was an attention gathering device.

I have not been in a fight since I was surprise attacked in a bar by three American sailors one night in Rio de Janeiro back in the early 70's. My companions and I escorted two of them to the MPs and turned them in. We carried the third, turned his dumb self in too.

Wink

ooh rah!

 

[Lookinagain]

I think it qualifies as Battery, more than assault. I wonder if Smith could be charged by the state regardless of whether Rock participates in bringing the charge?

Yes, you're right. Assault refers to causing someone to fear imminent harm. Battery refers to the actual act of physically harming someone.

So it's probably more battery than assault, since Chris Rock didn't seem to know it was coming so probably wasn't fearful. But he was definitely physically touched.

 

[missy]

I did not watch and only heard about it the day after. Any violence is unacceptable IMO. Period.
Unless one is defending against physical violence. That is a different story.

Chris Rock is a comedian. That is what he does. Will Smith not only overreacted he crossed the line IMO. (And should be prosecuted but of course won't be). If he wanted to express his displeasure there were other ways to do so.

And yeah if I looked as good as Jada I would be happy to be bald. But of course that isn't what this is about. Displaced anger indeed. Will Smith needs anger management classes. And lots of therapy.

I wonder how Jada feels about all of this? Was she happy Will Smith did what he did or was she pissed? I told Greg to let me handle any rude comments myself etc. I don't need my man defending me. I can do it myself thank you very much. And I can do it without touching my offender. I am trying to remember what Greg once said about me to his friend. If someone does me wrong. He said I can cut them and they don't even realize it til they're bleeding. Figuratively speaking of course. As I do not believe in physical violence.

 

[Mreader]

I did not watch and only heard about it the day after. Any violence is unacceptable IMO. Period.
Unless one is defending against physical violence. That is a different story.

Chris Rock is a comedian. That is what he does. Will Smith not only overreacted he crossed the line IMO. (And should be prosecuted but of course won't be). If he wanted to express his displeasure there were other ways to do so.

And yeah if I looked as good as Jada I would be happy to be bald. But of course that isn't what this is about. Displaced anger indeed. Will Smith needs anger management classes. And lots of therapy.

I wonder how Jada feels about all of this? Was she happy Will Smith did what he did or was she pissed? I told Greg to let me handle any rude comments myself etc. I don't need my man defending me. I can do it myself thank you very much. And I can do it without touching my offender. I am trying to remember what Greg once said about me to his friend. If someone does me wrong. He said I can cut them and they don't even realize it til they're bleeding. Figuratively speaking of course. As I do not believe in physical violence.

You bring up a very good point Missy. If my husband did that to somebody who insulted me I would be absolutely mortified.

 

[Matata]

Too bad the producers weren't as quick thinking as you.

I suspect the producers realized that the slap would garner attention to an awards show in which the TV viewing public was losing interest and decided to capitalize on the opportunity.

 

[chrono]

I do not think it was staged or planned when watching the replay. He was laughing at the joke, then did a 180 degree turn when he saw that his wife was not amused.

 

[Gloria27]

I wonder how Jada feels about all of this? Was she happy Will Smith did what he did or was she pissed? I

These people have egos as big as black holes then they pretend they are a vessel of love, cringe AF if you ask me...

 

[rainydaze]

You bring up a very good point Missy. If my husband did that to somebody who insulted me I would be absolutely mortified.

I would have been so embarrassed if I were Jada! I would have wanted to disappear. There are so many other ways he could have expressed displeasure and let CR know he touched a nerve that would have ended it on a positive note.

I didn't watch the awards and only learned about the hullabaloo the day after. In watching the video, when they cut to Jada after CR's remark, I thought 100%, she's GI Jane and chuckled! For me it was the whole package - she was wearing green, had the bald style, and was totally vibing Demi/GI Jane - glamour version - in demeanor. Jada is known for edgy hairstyles; this didn't strike me as a new, controversial, or even a noteworthy look for her so I didn't understand why she and Will would be so upset about a (not-even-offensive, GI Jane isn't a negative association to me) quip about her choice of appearance for that night. However, I had no idea about the alopecia, I learned about it while googling the incident after watching it. I can see how that could be taken to cross the line. Cringeworthy and maybe worth a clever verbal rebuke or a mature chat backstage afterward, but certainly not battery. Disappointing.

 

[PreRaphaelite]

I bet Jada files for divorce.

 

[PreRaphaelite]

 

[AprilBaby]

I’m not convinced this was real I think it was a publicity stunt.

 

[Daisys and Diamonds]

Jada has a beaitiful shapped head
as does Demi Moore

Its taken all the limelight away from the winners on the night
im not just that because a NZer won best director but lots of others desrved the limelight that Will and Chris hogged

 

[kenny]

I suspect the producers realized that the slap would garner attention to an awards show in which the TV viewing public was losing interest and decided to capitalize on the opportunity.

Yeah, next they'll be having ... uhm ... "wardrobe malfunctions".

 

[LLJsmom]

Jada has a beaitiful shapped head
as does Demi Moore

Its taken all the limelight away from the winners on the night
im not just that because a NZer won best director but lots of others desrved the limelight that Will and Chris hogged

I too envy their beautifully shaped heads.

Chris didn't hog anything, just got slapped. He did his job, which was to make jokes, what they paid him to do. Got assaulted on the job. Yup.

 

[Daisys and Diamonds]

I too envy their beautifully shaped heads.

Chris didn't hog anything, just got slapped. He did his job, which was to make jokes, what they paid him to do. Got assaulted on the job. Yup.

Do you think it was staged ?
Maybe Chris thought it was a joke tp begin with ?

 

[LLJsmom]

Do you think it was staged ?
Maybe Chris thought it was a joke tp begin with ?

I really don't. His reaction looked genuine to me. How does this serve anyone? And if it was staged and people find out, there will be serious consequences. This has stolen the attention from so many deserving nominees and winners and tributes, basically, every thing and everyone that came after #theslap. It was truly sad. And for Chris Rock, a comedian of no small repute, to see that humiliating scene replayed and turned into a meme, an iconic star slapping him violently across the face on the international stage, that's trauma. Will Smith was laughing one minute, then enraged enough in a split second to walk on stage, deliberately, slap a fellow actor (not punch, but slap, which can be seen a more significant insult), then sit back down, roar expletives. Then not long after, win best actor, get on stage, in a long rambling speech, cry, blame the devil, said God had a mission for him, called himself a vessel for love, a river for people, be an ambassador of love and care and concern (while just earlier he slapped a fellow actor across the face and then shouted profanity) blamed love (or is it the people he loves?) for making him crazy, apologize to everyone except the person he assaulted, then go party all night. It is all too bizarre.

 

[missy]

 

[stracci2000]

Chris didn't hog anything, just got slapped. He did his job, which was to make jokes, what they paid him to do. Got assaulted on the job. Yup.

Yes. Think about all the other comics who stood on stage and made fun of their contemporaries. Don Rickles, Buddy Hackett, Jackie Mason......
They had acid tongues, said vicious things, and people loved it. No one stormed up on stage and hit them.

 

[autumngems]

I really don't. His reaction looked genuine to me. How does this serve anyone? And if it was staged and people find out, there will be serious consequences. This has stolen the attention from so many deserving nominees and winners and tributes, basically, every thing and everyone that came after #theslap. It was truly sad. And for Chris Rock, a comedian of no small repute, to see that humiliating scene replayed and turned into a meme, an iconic star slapping him violently across the face on the international stage, that's trauma. Will Smith was laughing one minute, then enraged enough in a split second to walk on stage, deliberately, slap a fellow actor (not punch, but slap, which can be seen a more significant insult), then sit back down, roar expletives. Then not long after, win best actor, get on stage, in a long rambling speech, cry, blame the devil, said God had a mission for him, called himself a vessel for love, a river for people, be an ambassador of love and care and concern (while just earlier he slapped a fellow actor across the face and then shouted profanity) blamed love (or is it the people he loves?) for making him crazy, apologize to everyone except the person he assaulted, then go party all night. It is all too bizarre.

I agree, whole range of emotions within 2 hours. Crazy

 

[autumngems]

That screams as PR wrote it. He was laughing his a$$ off then "it was too much for him to bear" give me a break.