Will Smith defends his Wife with a Wallop! ?

Neither of them knows how to behave; a cheap nasty joke resulting in violent abusive response.
Both should be banned from public appearances but they won't be; people will continue to fawn over them.

It's totally unacceptable. Will Smith was actually laughing until he glanced at his wife. These people are looked up to by a lot of impressionable folk and this is a terrible example. The world is violent enough, restraint is essential.

I think it was staged.

This is one of those "they were both wrong" situations.

I'm left thinking that Chris Rock's 'joke' was pre-meditated whilst Will-Smith's reaction was instinctive.

And if, as Sparklefizz says, Rock has a history of making jokes about Smith and his wife - maybe it was one joke too much?

I don't approve of violence as an 'answer', but find it easier to understand Smith's reaction than Rock's lack of hesitancy in making jokes at the expense of someone with a medical condition.

Good for him. Unfortunately this has just been covered on BBC breakfast and what they failed to say was why his wife has shaved her head.

Trying to get a laugh at the expense of someone's health is appalling.

Yes, he slapped chris rock, did not punch him..chris rock hardly moved so wasn't hurt..It was a gesture by will smith on behalf of his wife

MS, would that unfortunate result have been because of your action or someone on your behalf?

If someone had made a joke about my hair loss in front of millions he would have been unconscious on the floor.

I do think that Rock making a cheap ‘joke’ about alopecia is a bit strange.
I always thought that hair loss was a widespread problem for women of colour.
If I know this, then he must.

Cross post with BlueBelle

Jaxjacky

He slapped Chris Rock, not a punch and there is a difference. My initial reaction was supportive of Will, my second was more cynical, ‘no such thing as bad publicity’.

I couldn’t find a ‘slap’ emoji!

I agree; those were my reactions too.
I wouldn’t even be surprised if it was planned.
Will Smith isn’t a stupid man by any stretch.

Not the way to go about it. Understandably Will Smith was upset and angered by Chris Rock’s so called jokes but with a few well chosen words he could have completely annihilated and humiliated Rock instead of ending up apologising himself. The saying the pen or in this case the spoken word is mightier than the sword springs to mind. Not always easy to do though.

According to the radio this morning they had previously had a rehearsal with the self same joke being told with no reaction from Will smith so either it was a completely put up job or his wife whispered in his ear ??
Chris rock didn’t look hurt or shocked and carried on laughing and making a joke of it
Personally I think we ve been hoodwinked

Grandma70s

Of course it’s not right. Hitting is a primitive reaction, and should be completely out of the question.. Perhaps he is inarticulate and couldn’t defend his wife in words. The “joke” was not right either. Very wrong, in fact. What unimpressive examples of humanity.

There is no way Will Smith could be described as inarticulate.

I think he was wrong but admire him for sticking up for his wife.

Not Will Smith's finest hour. I understand him defending his wife but not with violence. I have lost respect for him.

He slapped Chris Rock, not a punch and there is a difference. My initial reaction was supportive of Will, my second was more cynical, ‘no such thing as bad publicity’.

Such a hurtful, cheap joke which hit a raw nerve. But no need to hit the man, some well worded sarcasm would have been classier.

...I see that the Bbc had to apologise after many complaints about another so called comedian at the baftas
..............................

BBC issues apology after Rebel Wilson BAFTA jokes hit by complaints

Smith has written about his abusive childhood and how it has made him fiercely protective of his family. He writes,about how his mother was knocked unconscious with a bleeding head injury which he witnessed his father assaulting her when he was 9.
I don't condone violence but there are times when you need to protect those you love and hearing his wife being mocked when she has alopecia from an auto immune disease is that moment.
On another thought why did they all get £14000 gift bags which could have been donated to victims of Ukraine ?
Don't like the hype of the Oscars

Smith has apologised for his actions (‘tearfully’, apparently)

All good publicity for his film King Richard; which I hear is all about a father ‘empowering’ his daughters.

Wrong thing to do for the same reasons as Riverwalk says.

Not much of an example to young boys and men is it - to resort to such violence in the heat of the moment, live on international TV.

Macho violence at its worse.

I admire Will Smith for defending his wife, although a bit of heckling would have been better than violence.

No illness or condition should be the subject of jokes and hair loss for women is traumatic.

Apparently Chris Rock has a history of making jokes against Will Smith and his wife.

The whole Oscars thing is shallow and has had its day in my view.

FannyCornforth

GrannyGravy yes, I think that you and lemsip are right.
These p*ss take type ceremonies are so passé now.

Unfortunately those sort of comedians, think they are hilarious whereas the rest of us think they are just embarrassing themselves and their audience.

Of course it’s not right. Hitting is a primitive reaction, and should be completely out of the question.. Perhaps he is inarticulate and couldn’t defend his wife in words. The “joke” was not right either. Very wrong, in fact. What unimpressive examples of humanity.