Chris Rock versus Will Smith

[David Young]

So who is excusing whom in this fight?

And the obvious questions:
If one of the participants had been white, if the other one had been, if one had been female etc...

 

[Debater Slayer]

I have a feeling we're going to hear about this for months.

As if politician gossip on social media weren't pointless enough, now we have celeberity gossip from the Oscars themselves.

 

[Harel13]

I have a feeling we're going to hear about this for months.

As though significantly more consequential things aren't happening in the world.

 

[David Young]

Does anybody wish to express an opinion on this before Hollywood, social media or the UK's College Of Policing decides what the approved position should be?

 

[PureX]

What was Chris Rock thinking? How did he think that would be seen as a joke?

 

[Revoltingest]

It's what this ceremony gets for not hiring Ricky Gervais.
At least then there'd be an audience to watch Will Smith
lower the bar for behavior in public. And finally, Mel Gibson
would be off the hook.

BTW, Mel is a boor, but dang...his Apocalypto is one
heckuva movie.

 

[Secret Chief]

UK's College Of Policing

What is this?

 

[David Young]

It's the body which came up with the category of 'non-crime hate incident'.

 

[David Young]

I've just been for a ride in my Tardis to a parallel universe in which Will Smith is white.

Today's news has not covered anything from Ukraine.

 

[Secret Chief]

It's the body which came up with the category of 'non-crime hate incident'.

New one on me

 

[PureX]

They gave Billie and Finneas the Oscar for the Bond song. That's what the news SHOULD be reporting!

 

[A Vestigial Mote]

I had no idea this had even happened and had to look up a video to see what had happened. It was a joke in poor taste, for sure, but, in my opinion, there is no excuse for taking things to a physical level over merely words spoken. The arena for words should remain words - either outclass them with wit, or don't do anything at all. A physical response is only warranted when someone starts something physically. The first to start throwing punches over nothing but exchanged words will always be more in the wrong in my opinion. No matter how instigating anyone found those words to be.

 

[Revoltingest]

What was Chris Rock thinking? How did he think that would be seen as a joke?

It's not like she had cancer or anything severed.
Smith became a violent thug over a joke far far
tamer than anything Gervais would've lobbed.
He should be prosecuted, but his ilk is above
such inconveniences visited upon the masses.

 

[Valjean]

He should have slapped Rock with a glove and demanded satisfaction, like a proper gentleman.
Just think of the ratings the ensuing duel would pull!

 

[Revoltingest]

He should have slapped Rock with a glove and demanded satisfaction, like a proper gentleman.
Just think of the ratings the ensuing duel would pull!

I'd have recommended the camera
cut to Smith as he epic face palmed.

 

[Nakosis]

So who is excusing whom in this fight?

And the obvious questions:
If one of the participants had been white, if the other one had been, if one had been female etc...

I suspect Will Smith is really bothered by his wife's lack of hair.

 

[PureX]

It's not like she had cancer or anything severed.
Smith became a violent thug over a joke far far
tamer than anything Gervais would've lobbed.
He should be prosecuted, but his ilk is above
such inconveniences visited upon the masses.

Sure, because we hate "his ilk".

Actually, I was impressed by how closely Gervais skirted that line between funny and cringe without actually overstepping. When the audience would start to moan over something he said he's cut them off with "Oh, c'mon! We all know it's true ..." or something like that. He'd reign the indignation in just enough to get him to the next joke. And he spread the comments around. He was really adept at that. Chris Rock unfortunately just sort of blurted out the joke, and let it float there, like a really loud nasty fart at a black tie dinner. And Will Smith responded exactly like one might expect from a guy that sees himself as having come up from the streets to become a rich, successful, big-shot. So of course he'll respond like a thug. That's what America pays him to be. Just like it pays Chris Rock to sling insults in the name of comedy and "truth".

 

[Revoltingest]

Sure, because we hate "his ilk".

Do we?
I just oppose their getting preferential treatment under the law.
Fame, adulation, & money shouldn't be such a shield.
But there will be other consequences.

 

[Debater Slayer]

It's not like she had cancer or anything severed.
Smith became a violent thug over a joke far far
tamer than anything Gervais would've lobbed.
He should be prosecuted, but his ilk is above
such inconveniences visited upon the masses.

That the joke was "tame" isn't for us to decide considering that it clearly didn't land well with its subject (Jada Smith): it wasn't made at our expense and didn't make fun on a global stage of a medical condition we struggled with.

Smith was wrong to become physical, but Chris Rock's joke was inappropriate as well. The idea that comedians should be able to say whatever they want without second thought is outdated and mistaken, and Chris Rock and some other older comedians from a less socially aware period are now increasingly finding this out.

 

[Revoltingest]

That the joke was "tame" isn't for us to decide considering that it clearly didn't land well with its subject (Jada Smith):

We know about how it affected Will, but how do you
know the effect on Jada?
Nonetheless, it is indeed for us to all consider how
appropriate his response to the level of insult intended
& inferred. This is not merely of social concern, but
also public policy, particularly when it results in assault.

Smith was wrong to become physical, but Chris Rock's joke was inappropriate as well. The idea that comedians should be able to say whatever they want without second thought is outdated and mistaken, and Chris Rock and some other older comedians from a less socially aware period are now increasingly finding this out.

Comedy is pain, & inappropriate jokes are the best.
Woe unto a society that can no longer tolerate a
Chris Rock, Ricky Gervais, Triumph, Joel McHale,
The Dice Man, or Lenny Bruce.