Will Smith defends his Wife with a Wallop! ?

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.

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.

I think it was staged.

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.

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.

I don’t believe any of it ! watch it again! Will smith is laughing at the joke before he strides up to the stage it was a slap and didn’t stop Chris Rock laughing if that was for real he would have reeled back in shock he would have been holding his cheek and would not have carried with no concern

Don’t forget Will Smith is a GREAT ACTOR

I’ve heard Smith’s apology now, and it was indeed tearful.

And a bit pathetic really, imo.

So instead of receiving some grudgingly earned respect for some misplaced ‘old-fashioned’ chivalry; he’s come across as a hot headed fool who can’t control himself, and then snivels.

The worst of both worlds.

timetogo2016

I think it was staged.

Do you think Smith agreed that his wife be the butt of the joke in their staged 'performance'?

It was an unpleasant joke to make. There should have been a reaction but it should have come from her if she didn't like it. We don't need a man to 'defend' us in this day and age!

Excellent point Dickens
So it can’t have been staged.

I have't seen it only read about it but wasn't someone else making fun of their marriage recently at an awards ceremony?

Kim19
Someone on my behalf: my OH.

Dickens watch him laugh at the joke before he reacts
It was definitely staged
Will smith gets kudos for ‘defending’ his wife Chris rock gets kudos for carrying on win/win
Remember we are dealing with fine actors ….tears and anger and staged slaps happen every day in their lives

EkwaNimitee

It was an unpleasant joke to make. There should have been a reaction but it should have come from her if she didn't like it. We don't need a man to 'defend' us in this day and age!

I think that it is a good thing to do to stand up to a bully on another’s behalf.
Especially a loved one; male or female.

(But perhaps not in the way that Smith did!)

Also Smith and Rock have ‘history’, as pp have mentioned

JaneJudge

I have't seen it only read about it but wasn't someone else making fun of their marriage recently at an awards ceremony?

They’ve been very candid about their ‘open’ marriage.
TMI imo!

The joke was unacceptable - he was right to point that out, but words might have been preferable to deeds.

I can't find the acceptance speech only the footage of him slapping him

Has anyone else seen that film with his son in? It was such a powerful film, it's on amazon but I have forgotten what it is called

It was a prime example of how shallow Hollywood is. The ‘joke’ was cruel and Rock should be ashamed of himself. I don’t think Smith punched him - it was more of a slap, and I think Smith can be forgiven for what was a knee jerk reaction to his wife’s very public humiliation. I know the pen is mightier than the sword but hard to think of the right words in the moment when the red mist descends. Perhaps it’ll teach Rock that humour at the expense of the vulnerable isn’t as acceptable as he thinks.

It's called Life in a Year but don't watch it if you are feeling fragile!

That’s another one to give a miss then Jane!

EkwaNimitee

It was an unpleasant joke to make. There should have been a reaction but it should have come from her if she didn't like it. We don't need a man to 'defend' us in this day and age!

Maybe not, but surely he has a right to express his own anger at the ‘joke’. And, as has been pointed out, the two have history.

I think he laughed because as he said in his speech its what happens in hollywood,people knock you down ,then he looked at his wife and saw she wasn't laughing she was upset .Of course he'd react,probably a spur of the moment act .I'd react if any of my nearest and dearest were being joked about in these circumstances

As someone who has alopecia totalis, for someone to make a joke about hair loss, if the lady is indeed suffering from this, is totally unacceptable. It has ruined my life and made me suicidal. If anyone thinks that's funny then they should be ashamed.

Making a joke about someone's medical condition - completely unacceptable
Hitting someone - completely unacceptable
Using your words - "keep my wife's name out of your fucking mouth" - absolutely acceptable

I've seen a clip of the incident, and don't really 'get' the joke - I think I've missed some of the words.

I think that Smith should have been removed from the ceremony by security, and things should then have carried on as though nothing had happened. I feel for the others who won awards which have been eclipsed by this bad behaviour, which shouldn't be given any more publicity.