...and what do you think now?
I'll admit, I thought Chris Rock's joke went too far at first (making fun of a woman's appearance which is a sensitive topic for many.) However, I came upon the realization that the joke doesn't merit physical violence and that Will Smith embarrassed himself and his wife more than he did Chris Rock, who handled the situation with grace.
A horrendous episode. Now, I've never ever liked Will Smith, factor that in. But that was, or should be, a career-ender imho. Debatable.
However, Rock had a year to process it, and his take in the stand-up came across as rather petty. He disappointed. Which gives some indication of how deeply damaging unbridled emotion & violence can be, its effect on people.
There was evidently some back story to the animosity between Rock and JP Smith. He stepped right up to, walked over the line, it blew up in his face. Factor in the cultural vulnerabiity of black folks among the elites, and you have what amounts to a family spat in front of folks you are already somewhat uncomfortable concerning.
Huh? Rock made a lighthearted joke about Pinkett's short hair. He didn't know she was diseased. And since when are women off limits in comedy?
Yes, the Academy handled it wrong. Smith should have been escorted out and the Oscar announcement delayed or his award even rescinded.
I guess you have a point I suppose that it was not meant to be an insulting joke. But initially at that moment I was more sorry for Jada because I know how women are sensitive about their appearance.
shareKind of shocked. Smith seemed like such a congenial fellow. It was a pretty mild joke, too, really. A lot of people think Demi Moore looked good as GI Jane, shaved head and all.
I thought it was real the moment it happened, just based on their reactions. Rock was legitimately at a loss for words for a few seconds.
I thought it was staged.
shareI thought that Will Smith is a straight up bitch. Chris Rock on the other hand took it like a boss.
shareI am not a violent person but I thought it was somewhat justified given the nature of the joke until there was a clip of Will Smith making a similar joke in the 90s at which point I thought it was Karma.
At the time I thought it was bad and now I think it is even worse. Rock's "joke" was barely a joke: the GI Jane character is a very positive and strong character. The comparison was hardly a negative one.
shareI thought it was staged when it first happened.
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