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Will Smith, Chris Rock confrontation shocks Oscar audience; 'CODA' wins best picture

147 Comments
By JAKE COYLE

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For an industry so bereft of original ideas, their self aggrandising stunts are rediculous.

9 ( +27 / -18 )

Kristen Stewart and her fiance (sic) Dylan Meyer

Her ‘fiancée’, surely? Dylan Meyer’s a woman, and ‘fiance’ minus its acute accent isn’t even a proper word. [sigh]

TT

Moderator: Fair enough.

-12 ( +12 / -24 )

Good for Dune’s technical achievements. Seems the headline (and the accompanying photo****) will change throughout the day: 'Dune' wins 4 awards as Academy Awards get underway” * 9:00am JST

****Kristen Stewart, right, and her fiance Dylan Meyer, arrive at the Oscars on Sunday. Stewart is nominated for best actress for her portrayal of Princess Diana in "Spencer.*" -

7 ( +12 / -5 )

JTV news alerts right now scrolling over Russia’s war on Ukraine with announcement of “Drive My Car”.

- INTERNATIONAL FEATURE FILM "Drive My CarWINNER - CNN

1 ( +11 / -10 )

I’m so out of touch. I have no idea who these people are.

8 ( +22 / -14 )

Will Smith open hand slapped him. Staged or real? I vote for real.

3 ( +18 / -15 )

Of course, LAPD will not be asking for *Fresh Prints *from Will Smith at the county jail. (Nice example for the kiddies.) All of this will be laughed off by tomorrow.

Seems the uncensored version was ok for JTV:

https://twitter.com/barstoolsports/status/1508273336513613824 -
11 ( +16 / -5 )

And do us the favor and don’t call that whole unknown and sick crowd an ‘academy’. lol

-2 ( +9 / -11 )

Just watched the clip of Smith hitting Rock. I was expecting that to be in retaliation for Rock having said something egregiously mean or personal, but actually the joke he said about a GI Jane sequel seemed pretty tame to me and not particularly insulting.

Makes Will Smith look pretty nuts to be honest.

14 ( +32 / -18 )

"And I suppose the anti Korean crowd can relax now that Japan won something/equalled the success of Parasite."

Well, I'll probably get down-voted for stating the following, but no, it's not equal to the success of Parasite. Parasite won Best Director, Best Original Screenplay, Best Picture, and Best International Feature Film. Not to mention all the attention it got prior to the Oscars.

That said, Drive My Car definitely sounds interesting. I'll be checking it out soon.

1 ( +17 / -16 )

Cringeworthy beyond belief. How seriously do these jokers take themselves. When fame goes to head.

such a lovely spectacle, stay classy guys,

8 ( +17 / -9 )

That was 100% real. It wouldn't make anyone look good if staged, and certainly not authentically.

I'm guessing Smith's career will take a big hit, too.

Rock.....yikes. To be put in your place like that in front of what must be 100 people watching live on TV and now the world on social media, fairly or unfairly, is a real embarrassment.

Just an ugly, ugly incident.

But at least no one will remember the political posturing and virtue-signaling the sad night is now meant to be.

0 ( +14 / -14 )

Just 10 years ago, @rainyday, Will Smith slapped a male Ukrainian reporter at the Moscow premier of Men In Black III for kissing him on the cheek: “What’s wrong with you, man??

Apr 19, 2012 - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8XcHgJ8FEIs -

-@12:16pm: “Makes Will Smith look pretty nuts to be honest.” -

12 ( +18 / -6 )

Will Smith and Chris Rock have been feuding since 2005. This is the second time CR has cracked a joke at the Oscars about Jada Pinkett Smith, who publicly suffers from alopecia (female pattern baldness). Like Hollywood itself, the joke was tasteless and unnecessary. #careerover

-8 ( +15 / -23 )

KurisuToday  12:43 pm JST

Will Smith and Chris Rock have been feuding since 2005. This is the second time CR has cracked a joke at the Oscars about Jada Pinkett Smith, who publicly suffers from alopecia (female pattern baldness). Like Hollywood itself, the joke was tasteless and unnecessary. #careerover

At first I didn't get it. That film starred Demi Moore with a shaved head. Now I understand.

Making fun of someone with these 'chrome dome' jokes is juvenile, whether it's about someone with alopecia or someone with brain cancer like John McCain. Remember the lippy sassy 'jokey' crap a certain turd said about that?

And what Chris Rock said was grossly out of line and totally uncalled for. Not funny at all. He asked for what he got.

-5 ( +12 / -17 )

Watch it in slomo.... Looks staged to me.

-25 ( +4 / -29 )

Will Smith and Chris Rock have been feuding since 2005. This is the second time CR has cracked a joke at the Oscars about Jada Pinkett Smith, who publicly suffers from alopecia (female pattern baldness). Like Hollywood itself, the joke was tasteless and unnecessary. #careerover

This bit of context makes it a bit clearer why Smith got so mad. To anyone who watched it (like me) without knowing that, Smith's reaction seemed like a completely bonkers over-reaction to a joke that didn't seem particularly offensive.

While I get that Rock was being a jerk with that joke though, I still think Smith's response was way out of line. Yelling at Rock I would be OK with, but physically assaulting him like that? No way.

8 ( +14 / -6 )

Yes it was. Making fun of someone with these 'chrome dome' jokes is juvenile, whether it's about someone with alopecia or someone with brain cancer like John McCain.

I know what it is and your point? We know what Rock said was wrong. I meant what I said about Smith. The still didn’t have any justification to physically assault someone. He could have yelled at him which is perfectly legit, but hitting him, a bit out of line.

And what Chris Rock said was grossly out of line and totally uncalled for.

I think so

Not funny at all. He asked for what he got.

No, civilized people don’t need to fix their problems by physically attacking someone else. Rock had at that point every right to retaliate but he didn’t and he handled it very well actually.

10 ( +19 / -9 )

Does people even still watch these kind of show? Is garbage.

-1 ( +11 / -12 )

Also, not that it justifies Smith hitting him or anything, but its worth noting that G.I. Jane is now a 25 year old movie. So this adds a layer of complexity to my feelings on the incident. On the one hand, that cultural reference is way too out of date to be effectively used as a punchline like that - half the people watching are probably too young to even remember that movie or the fact that Demi Moore had short hair in it. So the joke is not just bad because its rude, but also because its....just bad as a joke.

But being from the same generation as Rock and remembering 90s movies like they were yesterday myself, I kind of empathize with him. There was a time like 30 years ago when Chris Rock was a kind of cutting edge comedian, so I have to pity him a bit for having grown old like me and still having to rely on old stuff that he remembers from his glory days to try to make jokes. He is now the sort of guy he probably would have made fun of himself back in the 90s.

-2 ( +3 / -5 )

My opinion of Will Smith has just plummeted. I mean, if he can't put a featherweight like Chris Rock down with a free shot like that, what kind of action star is he? Hits like a little girl. If you are going to "defend" your wife with violence, at least do a good job of it. A nice "ground and pound" would have been much better.

-10 ( +7 / -17 )

Will Smith was totally out of line. His wife said she had embraced her baldness and spoke openly about it. What Chris should have joked about was the Smiths sex lives, now that would have been really funny.

8 ( +18 / -10 )

No, civilized people don’t need to fix their problems by physically attacking someone else.

Far too much inconsistency to unpack here.

-5 ( +4 / -9 )

My opinion of Will Smith has just plummeted. I mean, if he can't put a featherweight like Chris Rock down with a free shot like that, what kind of action star is he? Hits like a little girl. If you are going to "defend" your wife with violence, at least do a good job of it. A nice "ground and pound" would have been much better.

Well, no actually. Smith used an open hand to hit Chris. Had he used a closed fist, we might have seen blood, a knockout, a lawsuit and on and on, a complete breakdown in the entertainment live industry. Of course Smith could have Rocked Chris’s world, but that’s not what he was aiming for. That was more like a warning slap.

6 ( +15 / -9 )

considering what he let that other dude do to his wife, it seemed kinda of overkill to go all crazy like that over a joke.

But I still like Will, he seems like a good dude despite all this going on his life with his kind of strange wife and insane acting children. He must have a heart of gold to not just lose it 24/7.

-3 ( +7 / -10 )

Does anyone think the whole thing looked kind of staged?

Rock didn't even stagger a little.

-13 ( +7 / -20 )

I wonder if a lawsuit will follow?

1 ( +5 / -4 )

Does anyone think the whole thing looked kind of staged?

They both came off looking like giant jackasses. Who would agree to do that? Why?

Rock didn't even stagger a little.

I guess you didn't see the photo above the story. Take a look.

-7 ( +4 / -11 )

Why did he slap him? Why not punch him like a man?

-6 ( +10 / -16 )

While I get that Rock was being a jerk with that joke though, I still think Smith's response was way out of line. Yelling at Rock I would be OK with, but physically assaulting him like that? No way.

and I think Chris Rock said it, that joke was actually quite tame compared to what he could have said. Will and Jada have been having some drama in their relationship and he could have gone there. He should have just taken the high road like most stars do at the Oscars during his hosting gigs or Kobe when he was talking trash to him during the game-

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=2ycvpbVqSCI

4 ( +7 / -3 )

I didn't get the joke at first either, because I hadn't seen his wife. But, Jada Pinkett Smith is often mocked (Chris Rock has mocked her at previous Oscars, so there's a history there that lent to the intensity of the anger), and I can understand Smith's anger. Still, the assault was out of line. If he had just shouted, including the expletives, he could have gotten the message across... though Rock might not have learned his lesson quite so well. As it is, this has overshadowed everything else the show had (which wasn't much, true), and it is making huge waves across social media with the slap pose being put into everything from Grand Theft Auto-like graphics to even Pokemon Go.

-5 ( +4 / -9 )

CNN- "Will Smith appeared to strike Chris Rock".

These guys cant even be trusted to tell the truth about entertainment stories.

There was nothing "appeared" to strike about that, whatsoever.

He smacked that dude right in the face.

-5 ( +10 / -15 )

Altogether uncomfortable.

Still, it’s interesting when one of of our most vociferous posters here - one who praises a certain celebrity-turned-politician for his his ability to ‘punch back’ - feels that an assault (punch or slap, it's still an assault) is inappropriate here.

Based on this event, Ricky Gervais will have to wear Kevlar and bring armed body guards for the next Golden Globes he hosts.

4 ( +10 / -6 )

Will speaks of love, honour, commitment during his acceptance speech, yet stands up and clocks a very funny comedian with a harmless joke. It's all a big fat lie, what a charlatan Will Smith is.

3 ( +11 / -8 )

I initially thought that Smith overreacted to a joke about GI Jane. But as much as I love, Chris Rock, you shouldn't joke about someone's unavoidable medical issues. That's not fair. I don't know that, if I were in Smith's shoes, I would have hit Rock, but I would have thought about it.

-13 ( +6 / -19 )

Staged PR for a vacuous awards “show”

-4 ( +5 / -9 )

Why wasn't Smith removed by security after the assault?

Nothing but a lowlife thug.

5 ( +14 / -9 )

Thomas GoodtimeToday  11:10 am JST

*J**TV news alerts right now scrolling over Russia’s war on Ukraine with announcement of “Drive My Car”.*

To be fair, the news coverage here of the conflict in Ukraine is embarrassing compared to Western countries.

And I suppose the anti Korean crowd can relax now that Japan won something/equalled the success of Parasite.

There's hardly anything more pathetic than keeping cursing your own country

-8 ( +4 / -12 )

Thomas GoodtimeToday  01:21 pm JST

Well, I'll probably get down-voted for stating the following, but no, it's not equal to the success of Parasite. Parasite won Best Director, Best Original Screenplay, Best Picture, and Best International Feature Film. Not to mention all the attention it got prior to the Oscars.

Ah, my apologies Sarah.

I've never seen Parasite, nor Drive My Car. From what I've read about the pair, Parasite at least sounds moderately interesting. Drive My Car sounds dreary as hell. At least it isn't anime, which is a massive plus/surprise.

So you didn't see both. but wanted to say something about Drive my car. I see.

-8 ( +5 / -13 )

Will Smith has nothing to apologize for.

Glad that I dont live in a world where violence is encouraged and acceptable if one is "offended" by a distasteful joke.

9 ( +15 / -6 )

There's hardly anything more pathetic than keeping cursing your own country

“To criticize one's country is to do it a service... Criticism, in short, is more than a right; it is an act of patriotism--a higher form of patriotism, I believe, than the familiar rituals and national adulation.”― J. William Fulbright

-1 ( +5 / -6 )

Jada seems to have Will wrapped around her finger. Notice that after the joke was said, he was laughing pretty hard but Jada wasn't. I am not sure what happened between that and the slap but it was weird to see Will suddenly take a complete 180.

-2 ( +4 / -6 )

Go to Youtube, go full screen and watch it in slow motion.....

The F...bombs were real... I expect he got permission to use them for dramatic effect.

-5 ( +4 / -9 )

if someone insulted your wife for only having one breast because of cancer you would just ignore that even at a huge public event like the Oscars?

Absolutely no one was insulting anyone for having "one breast because of cancer". Don't embellish.

Rock made a tasteless joke comparing Pinkett-Smiths shaved head (done to manage alopecia) to the character in GI Jane.

No one deserves to be assaulted.

7 ( +17 / -10 )

For a second there, the Oscars were almost worth watching.

0 ( +4 / -4 )

Chris Rock one "joke" to far, with Will Smith slapping distance away from him. Chris noddy Rock

-2 ( +2 / -4 )

I guess you just hate Will Smith regardless.

I dont care for him or his movies, and I think Chris Rock is about as funny as a car crash.

My point is using violence is never the answer to dealing with a bad, tasteless joke.

9 ( +12 / -3 )

It was personal, unfunny, unnecessary, and deliberately timed/intended to provoke a reaction.

Go man to man don't have a pop at the the guys family

-4 ( +4 / -8 )

As far as concerned, if you're man enough to make fun of someone's embarrassing disfigurement due to an incurable disease, you should be man enough to accept an open-hand slap in the face

It's no different than making fun of a woman's burned-ugly face in front of everyone, then she slapping your face

-2 ( +7 / -9 )

I dont care for him or his movies, and I think Chris Rock is about as funny as a car crash.

I like Will Smith, and his movies, a lot. I think Chris Rock is hilarious.

I don't think Rock should have made the joke he did, given the context. I don't think Smith should have reacted as he did, but I understand the impulse.

-3 ( +6 / -9 )

Smith initially laughed at the joke. Maybe he realized he was in trouble, and felt smacking Rock was a way out.

6 ( +13 / -7 )

Will Smith was way out of line. I hope Chris Rock eventually presses charges. People are commenting on that his joke was out of line considering Jada's struggle with Alopecia and hair loss. But she is smiling and cheerful in her latest video just two months ago. And she definitely looks like GI Jane in the video. Will and her could've talked directly to Chris after the awards, and I'm sure he would've apologized. Chris Rock didn't mean any ill will. He's a comedian. Comedians make jokes. And yes, they sometimes miss. But again, Jada was smiling and cheerful about her just recently.

6 ( +12 / -6 )

Bad joke.

Appalling reaction.

6 ( +10 / -4 )

Happy to read that Coda took home the big prize. A truly excellent movie with a great story and message.

Also chuffed that Encanto bagged Best Animation.

-3 ( +2 / -5 )

OK while the joke was a bit lame it was rather tame, considering Will was fool enough to bring his wife, why on earth he hasnt ditched her I never know, he brought this on himself, CR could have joked about their messed up marriage instead!

-3 ( +3 / -6 )

I can’t believe anyone who criticizes Smith. Anytime anywhere when your beloved ones insulted such way in open public.

-7 ( +4 / -11 )

People are commenting on that his joke was out of line considering Jada's struggle with Alopecia and hair loss. But she is smiling and cheerful in her latest video just two months ago.

But she wasn't making fun of her disease. She's trying to accept it and cope with it and smile through it

2 ( +4 / -2 )

Jada seems to have Will wrapped around her finger. Notice that after the joke was said, he was laughing pretty hard but Jada wasn't. I am not sure what happened between that and the slap but it was weird to see Will suddenly take a complete 180.

Exactly! She shouldn’t have even been there since she has been treating Will Smith like trash!

-2 ( +3 / -5 )

That slap is the refusal to smile when someone humiliates your wife based on her baldness. Not ever joke is acceptable, the idiots worrying this particular joke should have known much better.

-2 ( +5 / -7 )

It is well known in Hollywood that Jada has admitted struggling with her disease, "alopecia" (female pattern baldness) emotionally and though Will seemed to smile at the joke, when he saw the reaction of his wife he got rightfully protective. He has been her support since she was first diagnosed and seeing her husband stand up for her in such a public way has probably helped her spirits. Chris was lucky it was not a fist.

Hard to see your struggling wife made fun of in such a hurtful, very public way on live world TV. He may regret his action later, or that his reaction was as public as Chris Rock's was, but he acted on instinct. Hard to condemn a man standing up for his partner. Being famous does not mean having a lack of human emotions or reactions.

Neither Chris nor Will are perfect as they both proved at the Oscars.

-2 ( +5 / -7 )

If you're offended or your wife has been offended, then you get up and walk out. That's the reasonable thing to do. Instead, Smith made it all about him. He strutted onto the stage, got violent, then continued shouting profanities from the audience.

1 ( +6 / -5 )

Notice that after the joke was said, he was laughing pretty hard but Jada wasn't. I am not sure what happened between that and the slap 

I would guess he looked over and saw his wife's reaction, felt a sudden flush of shame (that he was laughing) and protective anger (for his wife), and overreacted.

I got this from YouTube, as I haven't watched an Academy Awards show in decades. This year's show makes me wonder if I should tune in next year for more celebrity hijinks.

-2 ( +2 / -4 )

It is unfortunate the Oscars do not have a category for the most popular movie and the highest box office take. So many movies nominated that a majority of movie goers never bother to see, while popular movies get overlooked.

Too artsy and exclusive for my tastes.

-2 ( +0 / -2 )

It’s funny how all the “I won’t be watching the Oscars” posters now can’t stop talking about it.

-2 ( +3 / -5 )

Think its pretty shameful Smith can full on slap someone unprovoked and Academy Awards people just let him go back to his seat and enjoy the party. (Academy Awards people too scared of how their sponsors will react if they dont have Smith there to get his award? (If he should get it at all.))

Interesting the press says Smith gave an "apologetic speech" later when receiving his award. From the transcript I saw, all he was saying is he is sorry about how this might affect his career or how its a tough time for him being at his peak. Really, an apology needs to the the person you wronged.

1 ( +4 / -3 )

Will Smith won’t ever have to buy a beer at a bar ever again, as long as there’s a red-blooded man ready to defend his lady there. Legend.

-11 ( +0 / -11 )

Look how Rock is standing. Hands behind his back, face out to be slapped. A guy walking out from the audience "off script" Normal reaction would be to step back or at least move hands in front..... Third time to point this out but watch it in slomo..

Rock's face moves well after the "slap" that just misses him.

Remember they are professionals..they do this for a living.

-8 ( +3 / -11 )

New series: “Every Will Hates Chris”

-4 ( +0 / -4 )

Chris Rock, jibe, cruel cheap laugh at the expense Will Smith of  wife, Jada Pinkett Smith.

With he benefit of hindsight Will Smith could have offered his arm to his wife Jada Pinkett Smith. and with dignity left the building.

The red mist fell, the rest is now history.

-4 ( +0 / -4 )

Think its pretty shameful Smith can full on slap someone unprovoked and Academy Awards people just let him go back to his seat and enjoy the party.

Your "unprovoked" narrative did not happen. He was provoked by a hurtful "joke" at the expense of his wife who has a disease that she finds difficult to deal with.

Are fat jokes ok and how about homophobic jokes? Why is a joke about someones disease ok in some posters minds? Tasteless and hurtful humor at a vulnerable persons expense. They call it a "cheap shot", and it is not acceptable. Violence is also not acceptable. In this instance the violence was limited to a minimal level and was possibly appropriate to shock Chris into being more selective in his future material and trying not to make cheap shots at vulnerable people.

-7 ( +2 / -9 )

A Black man was physically assaulted on national television

most people think it’s funny.

But only because another Black man did it.

how sad that is for our society.

-6 ( +6 / -12 )

OscarsSoWhoopAss
-1 ( +1 / -2 )

I can understand Wills, that jock was particularly stupid since his wife is suffering from severe alopecia.

0 ( +3 / -3 )

A Black man was physically assaulted on national television

most people think it’s funny. 

But only because another Black man did it. 

how sad that is for our society.

Most people think it’s shocking and wrong. Your finger is on the wrong pulse.

-1 ( +6 / -7 )

Just watched the clip of Smith hitting Rock. I was expecting that to be in retaliation for Rock having said something egregiously mean or personal, but actually the joke he said about a GI Jane sequel seemed pretty tame to me and not particularly insulting.

the joke was about her being bald. Her baldness is the result of an autoimmune disease. It’d be like someone cracking a bald joke about someone going through chemo.

I’m with Will on this one. I’d have popped him on the mouth, too.

-1 ( +4 / -5 )

Will Smith. He been viewing the tape of Tyson and Pinkett - thinking it was he, then getting all macho, bad boy with Mister Rock, slapping him girly style powder puff.

-4 ( +0 / -4 )

Chris Rock can take a punch waaaay better than the Fresh Prince can take a joke.

1 ( +5 / -4 )

most people think it’s funny.

I dont see others laughing. Maybe its more a reflection on you for thinking it's funny when most dont.

3 ( +6 / -3 )

Too bad CR didnt come back with something like:

"Will and Jada's relationship is open to everything except jokes"

Sorry Will you have let your wife make you the butt of a million jokes, hell YOU LAUGHED at CR's joke until you glanced at your wife & saw her face & then made a fool of yourself....AGAIN!

1 ( +3 / -2 )

Really sad the media is not calling out the violence. Smith should have been removed from the show.

Comedians are always roasting people, that’s their job. Smith was completely out of line. Disgusting.

3 ( +6 / -3 )

Fake. Will Smith didn’t get within a foot of Rock’s face. Hollywood and the Oscars are an illusion and they’re proving how gullible people are. It’s all about publicity and look how much this is getting.

It was like when Lady GaGa and what’s his face sang that song on some some show and everyone was saying that they’re really, really, REALLY in love.

Remember the line in Men in Black where Tommy Lee Jones tells Will Smith that a person can be smart, but people are stupid?

-5 ( +2 / -7 )

Perhaps Smith realises he's a clapped-out actor and grabbed his chance to audition for the WWE lot, but then he's probably not funny enough to join them.

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

Watched the clip of the apology. Will Smith apologized but not to Chris Rock.

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

I am withholding judgement until I hear what Kim Kardashian has to say.

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

Chris Rock got his world ROCKED!! This guy makes a living off of talking about others and thinking his jokes are funny. This is not the first time he joked about Jada. The first time Will laughed it off hilariously, but this continued to happen on his comedy routines etc. Its seems to me that Will was listening to L.L. Cool J song Mamma said knock you out. Chris played the slap off as if it was nothing but what else could he have done. Simply nothing he would have got destroyed by Will.

-5 ( +1 / -6 )

"The Academy does not condone violence of any form. And the award for best actor goes to Will Smith!"

0 ( +3 / -3 )

a comedian making jokes about a woman's medical condition is a dick move. hitting them for it is downright assault. I think Smith did the wrong thing for the right reason.

1 ( +5 / -4 )

Chris Rock got his world ROCKED!!

Edgy. Good ROCKED!! or bad ROCKED!! ?

Chris played the slap off as if it was nothing but what else could he have done.

Played the slap off as if it was something.

Simply nothing he would have got destroyed by Will.

Are you saying if he hadn't played the slap off as nothing he would have been 'destroyed'?

0 ( +1 / -1 )

Jokes in poor taste, outdated, and not funny. Would be worst If Chris has made similar ones in the past. Disorder or not, hair do jokes are pretty weak. Perhaps this was the only way Will could get Chris to stop if indeed there was a feud.

-2 ( +0 / -2 )

So many gullible people on here.... Watch it in slomo... see Chris Rock sticking his face out, tensing his jaw ready, Will Smith throwing a bent arm slap that either just misses or connects with fingers only on Rock's chin. When slapped, a face will move with the hand, Rock's moves after a delay. All quite well done but fake as fake can be. Actually, we can say it was very well done cause it sure fooled the JT crowd.

-5 ( +2 / -7 )

So many gullible people on here.... Watch it in slomo...

Do you have a slomo link for us, or did you download it and spend lots of time trying to force a conspiracy on yourself?

So brave of Will Smith to allow his wife to be gravely insulted in front of biilions for the sake of TV ratings, and to sacrifice the finest moment of his acting career.

Yep, an exceedingly fine conclusion you have reached.

2 ( +5 / -3 )

Why does it now appear to be the norm for comedians to tear into actors at the number one movie awards ceremony? Ricky Gervais has been long overdue a slap like that. Why is it ok for comedians to take their cheap shots and actors have to take it? And stop all this nonsense about assault and violence. If you don't like the reaction then don't dish out the insults.

-6 ( +0 / -6 )

Some English media are now saying that the slug fest was staged. I wonder.

0 ( +2 / -2 )

Some English media are now saying that the slug fest was staged. I wonder

Unless they provided some proof, you got sucked in by clickbait.

-4 ( +1 / -5 )

I don't agree with the violence, Will Smith was in the wrong. But this can happen when you make fan of a man's wife. Freedom of speech doesn't mean you won't get slapped upside the head for what you say.

-6 ( +2 / -8 )

Some English media are now saying that the slug fest was staged. I wonder.

If they are reporting this slap as a ‘slug fest’ I’d be a bit suspicious.

-1 ( +2 / -3 )

Freedom of speech doesn't mean you won't get slapped upside the head for what you say.

No law ensures that you won't get slapped, but it may ensure that the people who do it may face consequences.

Do you believe that making fun of a man's wife deserves getting slapped, and that the slapee should be excused? What level of personal insult is unacceptable?

0 ( +2 / -2 )

No law ensures that you won't get slapped, but it may ensure that the people who do it may face consequences.

Freedom of speech won't ensure anything if you get slapped for what you say. That's not what Freedom of Speech is. Assault laws may bet someone prosecuted for that. But assault and freedom of speech are different things.

Do you believe that making fun of a man's wife deserves getting slapped, and that the slapee should be excused? What level of personal insult is unacceptable?

You replied to the post in which I directly addressed that question:

I don't agree with the violence, Will Smith was in the wrong.

-3 ( +0 / -3 )

But assault and freedom of speech are different things.

They aren't. It's like saying leaving your door unlocked excuses burglary.

Insulting a man's wife might explain assault, but by law it does not excuse it.

1 ( +2 / -1 )

Insulting a man's wife might explain assault, but by law it does not excuse it.

You're repeating what I said:

Freedom of speech won't ensure anything if you get slapped for what you say. That's not what Freedom of Speech is. Assault laws may bet someone prosecuted for that.

But assault and freedom of speech are different things.

-2 ( +0 / -2 )

Will Smith apologized but not to Chris Rock.

Did Chris Rock apologise to Jada Pinkett Smith?

-1 ( +3 / -4 )

But assault and freedom of speech are different things.

They aren't.

They aren't? So which clause of the Freedom of Speech laws could he be prosecuted for with that slap? I mean, it MUST be part of FoS laws based on your comment. So which part?

-4 ( +0 / -4 )

You're repeating what I said:

I'm not. I'm saying what you probably meant.

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

I'm not. I'm saying what you probably meant.

What you said:

Insulting a man's wife might explain assault, but by law it does not excuse it.

You made two points here:

First - an assault can potentially be explained by a man insulting another's wife. I said that here:

Will Smith was in the wrong. But this can happen when you make fan of a man's wife.

-3 ( +0 / -3 )

Your second point, that law doesn't excuse a man for slapping another. I said that right here:

Assault laws may bet someone prosecuted for that.

So yes, you're repeating me.

-3 ( +0 / -3 )

So which clause of the Freedom of Speech laws could he be prosecuted for with that slap? I mean, it MUST be part of FoS laws based on your comment. So which part?

None of them. No FoS laws excuses his violence. What are we arguing about?

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Did Chris Rock apologise to Jada Pinkett Smith?

Cleo's is the voice of reason amongst all this other noise. Chris Rock is a big enough man to take a slap for insulting another mans wife. All this talk of police action is wasting police time. And nobody mentioned how Jada Pinkett Smith feels. Except for Cleo.

-2 ( +2 / -4 )

So which clause of the Freedom of Speech laws could he be prosecuted for with that slap?

None of them

That's what I said:

But assault and freedom of speech are different things.

But you said they're the same:

They aren't.

But now you're switching to saying that in fact, he cannot be prosecuted under freedom of speech laws, when previously claiming freedom of speech and assault are not different.

What are we arguing about?

I'm not arguing, I'm answering your questions. I made a statement:

I don't agree with the violence, Will Smith was in the wrong. But this can happen when you make fan of a man's wife. Freedom of speech doesn't mean you won't get slapped upside the head for what you say.

And you asked some questions, that I had already answered in my original post. Now you seem to be confused about why we're discussing it, when you opened up the discussion:

Do you believe that making fun of a man's wife deserves getting slapped, and that the slapee should be excused? What level of personal insult is unacceptable?

-5 ( +0 / -5 )

Comedians are always roasting people, that’s their job.

But it's not a comedy store. It's the Academy Awards and they're supposed to be presenting.

Smith should have been removed from the show.

And in turn remove Rock for insulting actors instead of just presenting.

Smith was completely out of line. Disgusting.

And Rock wasn't?

-1 ( +2 / -3 )

Comedians are always roasting people, that’s their job.

Roast comedy is only one type of comedy. It's by no means a requirement. Chris Rock has plenty of comedy that is funny that is not roast comedy.

This was a joke that went too far, with a response that went to far. In normal life, none of us would even know, this one just happened to be extremely public. It's not that big of a deal overall.

-3 ( +2 / -5 )

Clippety/ Strangerland, freedom of speech does not cover making fun of the skin condition of another mans wife. And certainly not for tv laughs.

You may well get arrested for punching out (face slapping) a man who insults your wife. But don't be so shocked when it happens and start quoting the law.

In law a big mitigating factor is the insult which is proof that Smith never attended the show with those intentions until he was provoked.

Wasting police time. If you insult someone's wife at least be big enough to take a slap.

0 ( +3 / -3 )

The only thing “celebrities” hate worse than people talking about them is people not talking about them.

”Oh look! A shiny thing in the water! I think I’ll eat it…”

They caught a lot of fish.

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

And they were both smiling and laughing one second after their stunt.

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

Clippety/ Strangerland, freedom of speech does not cover making fun of the skin condition of another mans wife.

I disagree. Freedom of Speech is in reference to not being prosecuted for your speech - which means having the right to make fun of the skin condition of another man's wife without being prosecuted and jailed for it. Chris Rock is not facing any such punishments for his comments due to his freedom of speech. My point was that FoS won't protect you from getting smacked upside the head for saying it, as FoS laws do not cover assault, that's a different set of laws.

So yes, Freedom of Speech does entirely cover making fun of the skin condition of another man's wife.

You may well get arrested for punching out (face slapping) a man who insults your wife.

As you should, if the person you slapped wants to press charges. Assault is assault. I personally support Will Smith and respect him defending his wife. It's the same as when my kid got in trouble for hitting a bully at school "you're going to get in trouble for this, and you're going to have to suck it up and accept it, but you did good standing up for yourself".

-1 ( +3 / -4 )

Wasting police time. If you insult someone's wife at least be big enough to take a slap.

Like Chris Rock did. He took it, made a joke, moved on, and didn't involve the police. Like a man.

-3 ( +2 / -5 )

And they were both smiling and laughing one second after their stunt.

Experts are saying that their body language showed it was real. But I personally give anonymous internet hacks more credibility than body language experts, based on their very strong arguments.

https://www.ladbible.com/entertainment/body-language-expert-explains-whether-will-smith-slap-was-real-or-fake-20220328

-4 ( +1 / -5 )

At no point did I state this. At no point did I even mention this.

How quickly you forget:

But assault and freedom of speech are different things.

They aren't.

You claimed that FoS and assault are not different. This means that you could be prosecuted for assault under FoS laws since they're the same. So yes you very clearly did mention this.

-2 ( +1 / -3 )

This means that you could be prosecuted for assault under FoS laws since they're the same

FoS laws do not excuse assault. Or should I say laws do not exclude other laws.

On topic, Chris Rock's comments may explain Will Smith's assault, but they do not excuse it.

1 ( +3 / -2 )

FoS laws do not excuse assault. 

I don’t see that anyone here has claimed they do.

On topic, Chris Rock's comments may explain Will Smith's assault, but they do not excuse it.

I don’t see that anyone here has said that they would.

-6 ( +0 / -6 )

And now, right on cue and keeping with the script, they have "...made up and are brothers."

I've got some cheap land in Florida that I'm happy to offer for sale...

0 ( +1 / -1 )

having the right to make fun of the skin condition of another man's wife

Not in my book. Chris Rock wants to hope that Pinkett Smith doesn't research defamation of character law. Especially in front of millions on live TV.

-7 ( +1 / -8 )

Chris Rock wants to hope that Pinkett Smith doesn't research defamation of character law. 

Are you suggesting that this would somehow be covered under defamation laws? Please elaborate.

-1 ( +2 / -3 )

The reason no charges are being laid is that Chris Rock is probably well aware that with he committed the first act of violence by joking about Jade’s medical condition. That was, in terms of its effect, more than a metaphorical slap in the face. Will reacted as some men will, laughing at the joke until it sunk in and then wanting to punish Rock for his assault. A poor choice perhaps, but don’t tell me there aren’t people here who haven’t felt the red mist come down when they find those they love under attack. I still love that he desired to defend her. Too many these days wouldn’t.

-3 ( +1 / -4 )

Pardon the poor grammar. I should have done a thorough read-through.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

I'm all against cancelling comedians over arbitrary made-up rules over what one can and cannot joke about.

But props, I guess, to Will Smith for taking his beef analog and not whining about it on Twitter.

If Will Smith stayed in his seat, who knows- maybe the Internet Outrage Warriors would be out in full force today trying to get Chris Rock fired or whatever. But they don't need to now because Will Smith already straightened it out for them.

2 ( +3 / -1 )

New Will Smith move, Handbags at Dawn Warrior

2 ( +2 / -0 )

A slap is not a punch so the grinning clueless CR just "took it like a man". Will Smith was deeply affected by the DV he experienced as a young child that seems to have left its mark on this troubled star. We should cut him some slack. In my book, much ado about nothing.

-2 ( +0 / -2 )

I would have grabbed Chris Rock by the collar and pulled him in front of my wife and made him apologize for such a cruel comment.

Yeah, grabbing someone doesn’t always work out well for a lot of people, trust me on that one.

4 ( +4 / -0 )

As I said yesterday, I like Will Smith and I love Chris Rock. But while it's fine to make fun of someone for their decisions, making fun of them for a medical condition is not on. I don't know that I would have done what Will Smith did if I were in his position, but I understand the impulse.

-2 ( +1 / -3 )

Will is such a phoney. He was laughing at the joke, saw his wife was upset. Probably more at him for laughing. Then he thought he should act like a tough guy. I've lost my respect for Will.

3 ( +4 / -1 )

Express sisterMar. 29  10:45 am JST

As I said yesterday, I like Will Smith and I love Chris Rock. But while it's fine to make fun of someone for their decisions, making fun of them for a medical condition is not on. I don't know that I would have done what Will Smith did if I were in his position, but I understand the impulse.

WS might've been wrong by slugging CR, but making fun of a medical condition is totally uncouth and uncalled for. There's many children who get teased for similar things and it's very hurtful and degrading. Words do hurt, just like sticks and stones. And some people never grow up, making fun of a medical condition is never funny, it's juvenile at best. There's a difference between cracking a joke and being a total jacka**.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

The feelings are masterpieces of the art. But a masterpiece of art could be falsified and seems original.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

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