I'm just gonna say this then I'm done here: I can't believe the Smith support. It's shameful. Assault was not required to "save his wife's honor". The joke got a collective groan. Rock lost when he delivered it . The celebration of violence, cheered on and rewarded is what's disturbing here; Not a comedian pushing boundaries for chuckles. That's their job. Smith has been ridiculed for years over his marriage, and he picks this situation to address it? That's not strength, that's weakness. I'm out.
Dont think there is a better case study in "toxic masculinity" than getting caught laughing by your sig other when she is being joked about, then getting embarrassed/emasculated by her, then taking it out violently on a weaker man to regain your 'honor,' and then self-righteously justifying it as protecting your family
The same folks who cry about race being injected into everything are making this about race. Go figure LOL.
I was wondering that, too, I didn't know -- or care --before this morning... Seems like the only thing that makes sense, since making fun of people's medical conditions isn't really a funny joke.
I appreciate the reply. Its an absolutely bizarre incident and so many reactions to it are equally bizarre. I dont keep up with celebrities and their drama. I had no clue about the open marriage stuff until I started reading about WS slapping CR. I just find the entire thing bizarre.
On one hand, she didn't sign up for a roast. Moreover, I generally don't like picking on peoples' appearance, though comedians and society do that quite often. On the other hand, if her own husband apparently didn't know she would have been very upset by it, one could argue that Chris Rock should not have expected that reaction either. But that argument is likely undermined by the fact that Rock helped write and narrated a documentary about Black women and their hair. So I feel like he knew it would probably be a sensitive subject.
You're skating on thin ice making fun of people's appearance, especially when you don't know if they're battling some sort of ailment. Chadwick Boseman aka Black Panther spent the last few years of his life looking gaunt and frail at award shows and while no comedian publicly made jokes about him, people on social media and the Internet were speculating if he lost weight for a movie role or if he was on a vegan diet. Then when he passed away, it was revealed he had been battling cancer. Joke at people's appearances at your own risk. That being said, I really don't think Rock knew about her condition.
this article claims Rock did not know. Chris Rock Hasn't Spoken to Will Smith, Didn't Know About Jada's Alopecia
Another factor to me was the reaction of the audience. I think the joke was not funny and given Hollywood's obsession with vanity only mildly offensive if Rock was unaware of her condition. If it truly crossed the line of decency enough to "warrant " Smiths response one would think the crowd response would reflect that. Instead they, along with Will laughed initially before the slap and other theatrics. I mean if it were widely known she had cancer or let's say alopecia even and he made the joke I imagine the response by the audience would have been somewhat of a condemnation alone. I'm just rambling because I'm bored. Honestly I think it's kind of absurd how much media attention it has taken over things like the Ukraine and other more important matters.
Chris did it all wrong. He punched down. He insulted someone’s wife. He made fun of looks. Especially the looks of a woman. I have no issue with Will Smith being a tool. You had to expect a reaction, maybe not that one, but you had to expect something. Chris seems like a normally decent guy so I doubt it was intentional, but he did it all wrong. All wrong.
It's open season on comedians then because someone is always going to get butt hurt over a joke. Don't like it, storm the stage.
Maybe the best point about the incident. It overshadowed the award of Best Documentary for Summer of Soul. That was a beautiful piece of art, well deserving of the award. Too bad it got lost in all of this.
Agree. Huge Questlove fan. Will be seeing him live in July. Was just as excited to see CODA do so well.
