Will Smith slaps Chris Rock on stage live at the OSCARS

[gitana1]

Maybe Denzel did sympathise with CR. It was, after all, an edited video.

Denzel said he realised there was more to WS's actions, which I believe there was.

I don't believe he said it was ok that WS used violence. Maybe, he's a close friend and rather than condemning him publicly, wanted to figure out what was going on with him.

If that was one of my friends, I too would have spoken to them, while still not condoning his behaviour.

At least Denzel is not pandering to the public. He's just expressing how he feels.

Fair enough. But the immediate reaction was surrounding WS as CR stood alone. Then later, WS was given a standing ovation. Now DW admits praying with WS but days nothing about CR. So I don’t think the sense many of us are getting about how Hollywood in general addressed this issue is far fetched.

Hollywood gave WS a pass. In fact, Hollywood coddled him for what he did. Nothing was done or said of any gravity to indicate otherwise until the general public began weighing in.

As for us (the general public), I think we are tired of rich people getting away with criminal behavior.

 

[gitana1]

Wait, what? Did she actually just say black people are just naturally violent within their community in a way white people don't understand???

"An MSNBC host over the weekend said white Americans should “sit this out” as controversy persists around Will Smith slapping stand-up comic Chris Rock during the Academy Awards last week."

"Harriot claimed the Smith-Rock incident was an example of “how black people relate to each other” in a way that white people do not understand, “even though it happened to everybody [watching the ceremony].”

"Some people use their words, some people use their hands. It is what it is. In the black community, we understand that,” Brown said."

MSNBC host Tiffany Cross says white people don't understand Will Smith slap

That’s disgusting. I know black judges, lawyers, court reporters, court clerks, LE, mail carriers, supermarket checkers/managers, preachers, social workers, servers, teachers, neighbors. I have seen none resolve perceived insults with violence.

It’s really shameful that someone would put that negative, racist attribute on their own people.

 

[gitana1]

IMO she's coming from a 'Critical Race Theory' perspective, which has taken over academia and is pervading other types of education.

I think the point she's making, from her perspective, is that white people have no right to judge people of other races. Like, if you went to dinner with people from a different culture, you have no right to judge their behaviour because it's different than yours.

It's tied up with referencing the long history of racial oppression and conquest by white people. It's a big deal, affecting universities, education, arts organizations, etc.

Beware of trying to argue against Critical Race Theory, that may be taken as evidence of your racism.

Anyone who fires her for saying this, for example, would probably be labelled racist.

JMO

No. That has nothing to do with critical race theory.

 

[gitana1]

IMO this was no half-hearted slap. A half-hearted slap does not spin ones's head around, as what happened to Chris. A half-hearted slap is more like someone just playing around, more like a light tap, like you might do to wake someone up.

The danger here was not just the full on, all his strength, roundhouse slap to the face that Will delivered, but the very real possibility that Chris could have lost his balance, fallen and hit his head. Chris had his hands behind his back, in no defensive posture at all because he didn't know what was coming.

We all know that people can die from hitting their head if they fall. I personally know someone who died this way, only in his 40s, from a slip and fall.

Below is one example of a slap that led to a death. There are others. Yes, Chris didn't fall and didn't die, so you'll likely think it's not a big deal. It so easily could have been.

Ex-soldier died after being slapped by son in game in Reading

Yes. Bottom line is it is battery. No man has a right to slap someone like that. We have laws against it because of the dangers involved.

 

[CharlestonGal]

Fair enough. But the immediate reaction was surrounding WS as CR stood alone. Then later, WS was given a standing ovation. Now DW admits praying with WS but days nothing about CR. So I don’t think the sense many of us are getting about how Hollywood in general addressed this issue is far fetched..

Hollywood gave WS a pass. In fact, Hollywood coddled him for what he did. Nothing was done or said of any gravity to indicate otherwise until the general public began weighing in.

As for us (the general public), I think we are tired of rich people getting away with criminal behavior.

I was a little irritated with DW, TP and BC coddling and comforting WS, too. But then I thought about it.

On the one hand, you have a man who has become seriously unhinged and violent in a crowd of people and you have no idea what he is going to do next. That would be Will Smith. That's a safety issue that needs to be contained right away. Security didn't do it, so DW, TP and BC did.

On the other hand, you have a man who has quickly regained his composure and regained control of the show and is proceeding on with his job like a professional. That would be Chris Rock. Chris Rock was handling Chris Rock and handling the Academy's business of putting on a show. He didn't need any help doing that.

I think giving Chris Rock the trust and respect to salvage the show, which he did quite easily, was the right way to go. And I'm glad they gave him the opportunity to do it. It allowed Chris Rock to leave the situation knowing that Chris Rock can handle Chris Rock and the Academy's business.

Guess which one will be invited back next year?

IMO

 

[CharlestonGal]

That’s disgusting. I know black judges, lawyers, court reporters, court clerks, LE, mail carriers, supermarket checkers/managers, preachers, social workers, servers, teachers, neighbors. I have seen none resolve perceived insults with violence.

It’s really shameful that someone would put that negative, racist attribute on their own people.

Right? I was active duty military for 22 years serving with a whole hodgepodge of different races, and cultures and backgrounds. I never witnessed black people resolving their differences with violence as she so casually suggests is the norm.

It may be the norm for her family, her friends, her neighborhood but to suggest the entire black community conducts itself that way is just shameful.

IMO

 

[gitana1]

Not my intent, but after nearly 20 years of reading and posting on WS, I’m extremely surprised at the horror created by a bit of celebrity foolishness.

It’s not “horror.” It’s outrage. Indignation. Big difference.

 

[Satchie]

It’s not “horror.” It’s outrage. Indignation. Big difference.

I'm still indignant because of the large number of comments that it was an appropriate reaction, even laudable response, because of the victims who might be hurt by the joke.

The current culture of victimhood is anathema to me. I'm with Eleanor Roosevelt, "No one can make you feel inferior without your consent".

This is such a clear and widely known case of the difference between 'dignity' culture and 'victim' mentality, IMO

" Dignity is a kind of inherent and inalienable moral worth. It doesn’t depend on your standing in the eyes of other people. A dignity culture emphasizes that all people have this sort of worth, which can’t be taken away. It’s why an insult can’t devalue you."

"People in a victimhood culture...[have] a high sensitivity to slight. They’re quite touchy, and always vigilant for offenses. Insults are serious business, and even unintentional slights might provoke a severe conflict...The combination of high sensitivity with dependence on others encourages people to emphasize or exaggerate the severity of offenses. There’s a corresponding tendency to emphasize one’s degree of victimization, one’s vulnerability to harm, and one’s need for assistance and protection."

Understanding Victimhood Culture: An Interview with Bradley Campbell and Jason Manning

JMO

 

[Luna20]

Not my intent, but after nearly 20 years of reading and posting on WS, I’m extremely surprised at the horror created by a bit of celebrity foolishness.

It doesn’t matter if it’s celebrity, royalty or any person. Violence is no respecter of persons. To be downplayed because it’s celebrities is to entirely excuse the act. Seeing anyone on a platform being slapped is disturbing. It was very unsettling to witness it.

In the pictures showing CR face wincing in pain is evidence of the size difference between them, the force behind the slap. He was in a very vulnerable state. It reminded me of dogs that are abused, not knowing why they are being hurt and not sure if more is coming. Cruel and unjust.

I would be horrified if I were giving a presentation amongst my colleagues and out of nowhere im physically assaulted. It’s degrading and gross behavior.

 

[CharlestonGal]

It doesn’t matter if it’s celebrity, royalty or any person. Violence is no respecter of persons. To be downplayed because it’s celebrities is to entirely excuse the act. Seeing anyone on a platform being slapped is disturbing. It was very unsettling to witness it.

In the pictures showing CR face wincing in pain is evidence of the size difference between them, the force behind the slap. He was in a very vulnerable state. It reminded me of dogs that are abused, not knowing why they are being hurt and not sure if more is coming. Cruel and unjust.

I would be horrified if I were giving a presentation amongst my colleagues and out of nowhere im physically assaulted. It’s degrading and gross behavior.

Right? Yeah, there are wars going on, a pandemic going on, atrocities of all kinds of sorts. That doesn't mean I give a pass to my kid for stealing a candy bar at Walmart or pushing a kid down on the playground. Or committing battery on someone at a public event.

Sheesh. Does this really have to be explained to people???

 

[Luna20]

This is what I’ve been thinking as well. Not only were they familiar, they are SUPER successful and one would think they have enough self confidence to take a joke. It’s different if you’re picking on someone who’s struggling and down on their luck. I think CR was truly shocked his joke was received by the Smiths so badly.

It wasn’t even a dig. Being compared to a young Demi Moore is far from derogatory. He could have gone after her entanglement with a younger guy while being married, her voluminous dress, her Scientology, her fingernails, her talk show and much more.

Another fellow comedian said he would have definitely joked about her “entanglement” and asked if she was hiding anyone under her dress.

 

[Luna20]

Right? Yeah, there are wars going on, a pandemic going on, atrocities of all kinds of sorts. That doesn't mean I give a pass to my kid for stealing a candy bar at Walmart or pushing a kid down on the playground. Or committing battery on someone at a public event.

Sheesh. Does this really have to be explained to people???

No it shouldn’t have to be…that in itself is unsettling to me. To overlook a wrong action because of anything else going on in the world doesn’t mean you lack concern for those activities. In that case every bad action could be excused based on there always being other things going on that can be labeled more atrocious.

 

[CharlestonGal]

No it shouldn’t have to be…that in itself is unsettling to me. To overlook a wrong action because of anything else going on in the world doesn’t mean you lack concern for those activities. In that case every bad action could be excused based on there are always other things going on that can be labeled more atrocious.

"Yeah, I murdered that chick and it was kind of wrong. But it was only one. I mean, look at Ted Bundy!!!"

That's a seriously slippery slope. jmo

 

[Luna20]

"Yeah, I murdered that chick and it was kind of wrong. But it was only one. I mean, look at Ted Bundy!!!"

That's a seriously slippery slope. jmo

Uncivilized, like third world slippery.

 

[Luna20]

Ricky Gervais slams people for calling Jada Pinkett Smith's alopecia a 'disability' | Daily Mail Online

 

[kadman]

I woke to a story on Google news today that said "Jada wishes the incident never happened". What a stupid thing to report. A) Like she'd wish the opposite and B) Doesn't everybody.

 

[CharlestonGal]

Ricky Gervais slams people for calling Jada Pinkett Smith's alopecia a 'disability' | Daily Mail Online

'What has it got to do with me? People were going 'What would have happened if Ricky Gervais had been doing it (hosting Oscars)?'

'Well, nothing as I would not have made a joke about his wife's hair. I would have made a joke about her boyfriend.'

Oh, dear.

 

[Elley Mae]

Did WS expect to be stopped on his way, being held back by a friend from hurting CR, and when that didn’t happen he opted to slap (like a girl) and not punch.

Jmo

 

[Luna20]

'What has it got to do with me? People were going 'What would have happened if Ricky Gervais had been doing it (hosting Oscars)?'

'Well, nothing as I would not have made a joke about his wife's hair. I would have made a joke about her boyfriend.'

Oh, dear.

I believe him. He was very outspoken to all of Hollywood when he hosted the Oscars a few years ago. He was giving constant digs about how ‘special’ this group of people think they are. It was definitely one of the most comical ones.

They have been very public with their open marriage so I can see a comedian subtly commenting on that. If that were to ever happen I could understand because they have shared that with the world.

 

[gitana1]

No it shouldn’t have to be…that in itself is unsettling to me. To overlook a wrong action because of anything else going on in the world doesn’t mean you lack concern for those activities. In that case every bad action could be excused based on there always being other things going on that can be labeled more atrocious.

It’s gaslighting. It’s meant to show that people disgusted by this have been overcome by hysteria.