Will Smith defends his Wife with a Wallop! ?

I haven't really decided what to think on this one.

Chris Rock previously made a documentary called "Good Hair" about the complicated issues black women have with their hair, and the lucrative industry involved. It is a good documentary; i watched it a few years ago. To me it seems he has the utmost respect for the women in his community.

The joke referred to a look that Demi Moore made famous in G.I Jane; showing a strong woman in the army, who shaved her head in defiance of being seen as weak (or too feminine). I think that while he did make a joke about the look, he didn't really mean for it to be disrespectful, and we don't really know that he knew of Jada's condition.

Will Smith was seen to be laughing at the joke, but not until he saw his wife was upset did he get up. Personally I think they were both wrong, and I believe there are more issues involved (the Smith's relationship).

Shameful behaviour, and his strut as he walked away made me feel even more so.

Will Smith was laughing along with the joke until he saw his wife’s reaction, only then did he take offence. He made himself look stupid by physically attacking Chris Rock. He seems to think he is so untouchable that he can behave any way he wants and get away with it. I always liked him but he’s shown a side of himself that saddened me.
Chris Rock is a dick!

No!!

A report I heard said Chris Rock had no idea she had a disease. Extreme hairdos are common in Hollywood. As jokes go, if Chris Rock really didn't know, it was very benign. I do agree that the Oscars have been ruined, both by rubbish films and rubbish performances at the Oscars. If I had to place any money, I would bet that it was a put up deal. The Oscar's have had terrible ratings the last few years and this gave them a bit of a bump probably. I live in the USA, but have almost given up on Hollywood films or TV. I do almost all of my watching through Acorn, Britbox, Netflix, etc. Even there it's hard to find things that aren't grossly over sexualized or rife with in your face violence.

Chris Rock’s cruel joke deserved a dignified verbal dressing down and ridicule for not understanding the hurt and distress caused. What Will Smith was to put the focus on his violent response rather than his wife’s distress and make Rock the victim. Consequently Smith’s public image has taken a battering

Someone has dug up a video from 1991 of Will Smith making fun of a bald man. Sorry I’m not good with links but it’s in the Daily Mail. Pot and Kettle springs to mind! Seems that WS is just another nasty thug.

What puzzles me is that he seemed to laugh at the joke, then went and 'slapped' him and went off stage smirking.
I can't help but feel this was some kind of publicity stunt.

I suffer from hair loss. I think Chris Rock was beyond insensitive. I also would have preferred a dignified and contemptuous walk out to a big dramatic 'look at me,' on stage assault. That does no one any favours.

Yes, he was right to do so. I suffered the indignity of alopecia in my early 20s . My Dad would have slapped Chris Rock for the ‘joke ‘ he made . Chris Rock showed himself to be a sniggering BULLY . I was a fan but not now.

Had he been a white man without Hollywood clout, a member of the public

And had he been a black man outside the theatre, they would have shot him. So that knocks the racism on the head, doesn't it Tanjamaltija?

And here's his public apology to Rock. You must have missed it.

www.scotsman.com/arts-and-culture/film-and-tv/will-smith-apology-actor-issues-public-apology-to-chris-rock-over-oscars-slap-3630765

Will Smith defended himself, not his wife. He was smiling at the jibe, and then caught sight nof hnis wife, who was doing an eye-roll... at his reaction. So he lept up to show he was "a man", as if violence ever cured anything. Also, he apologised to the audience and the Academy in public, but to Chris Rock in private, which is not cricket if you do something nasty in public, you apologise in public. Had he b een a white man without Hollywood clout, a member of the public, he would have been dragged off the stage by Security, in handcuffs, probably. and yet this person was even allowed to give a speech, with tears on cue. The wife spoke in public about her alopaecia, and has chosen not to wear a wig. So she is not a Little Woman who needs protection. Will Smith is now doing damage control by reminding us of his DV victim background. He could have stood up and sworn at the so-called comedian, but he chose to make a spectacle to gain Brownie Points. He did not impress me one iota.

No. There’s never an excuse for violence.

You’re kidding!!

Who is Will Smith? never heard of him.

No was wrong no one has the right to hit anybody.
Apparently that bit wasn’t seen on the American Oscars it was shut off.

No such thing as BAD publicity. Oscars are a waste of time, it’s just all the “lovies” loving themselves just a bit more.

I've suffered from dramatic hair loss when I had psoriasis on my scalp. It's a horrible thing to go through, and I wasn't in the public eye. So I imagine Jada Pinkett-Smith's family know how she feels about it.

Will Smith shouldn't have been allowed to get anywhere near enough to hit Chris Rock. Where were security?

There appears a culture of comedians given the green light to make personal comments in the name of entertainment. There is no right of reply. Well Will Smith made his reply.

The actors concerned have certainly achieved maximum publicity over this.
no irony intended

Both were in the wrong. The ‘joke’ should not have been made and the slap should not have been delivered. Not their finest moments but violence is not the answer unless it’s in self defence.

Violence is never the answer to anything.

I'm with those in the "they should have walked out" camp.

I've never heard of Chris Rock though the general consensus seems to be "tool" but how anyone can think physically assaulting someone is the sign of a real man standing up for his family is completely beyond me.

What excellent publicity for them all - 'hard to believe it made the front page, given the world right now.

Well done Will Smith!! Good on you for sticking up for your wife who i think was sat in the audience with him. For a woman to lose her hair is undescribable but for someone to make a joke out of it is horrific, shame on you Chris Rock !!

I agree. Walking out would have been dignified and effective and won the family a lot more respect than hitting out physically and shouting insults.