Jada, I love you, can't wait to see you in GI Jane II.

[fightforfreedom]

That's what Chris Rock said. That is not a terrible insult. Will Smith laughed. I do not see anything wrong with what Chris Rock said, It was a joke comparing her short haircut too GI Jane. Will and Jada need to lighten up and get a sense of humor.

[Sympthsical]

1. Smith laughed until he saw his wife's face

She gave him a look. And then it was, "Uh oh, I'll be in the doghouse unless I do something."

Their marriage is really, really Hollywood weird/crazy stuff. Which people mostly ignored on background, but now won't. So nice job there, Will.

[AlexSFCA]

7. the son said "that's the way we do it" lol. This is blown way out of proportion

News network got a relief from covering depressing real news, I can only laugh at this whole incident in comparison to real problems

[Sympthsical]

17. Yeah, this is the least important thing in the world

But it's a nice change of pace for a moment. It's some high drama.

It was really funny. My gym has seven TVs spread across the front of the cardio area. As I did my thing this morning, six of the seven were showing the Smith stuff.

It was beautiful.

[fightforfreedom]

8. Exactly.

[AlexSFCA]

11. the son said "that's the way we do it" lol. This is blown way out of proportion

News network got a relief from covering depressing real news, I can only laugh at this whole incident in comparison to real problems. Reminds me of Janet Jackson dress malfunction, claimed as obscenity and borderline pornography by rwnjs.

[Wingus Dingus]

20. He's OK with other men fucking his wife--but don't you DARE poke fun at her hairdo.

[Sympthsical]

23. It's going to be some epic Streisand effect

I knew some of it, just from inescapable pop culture osmosis.

I had not, however, heard about the stuff with Jaden's friend. Well, now a lot more people have.

[uponit7771]

51. +1,

[AlexSFCA]

2. lol. only Jada didn't have a haircut but well publicized autoimmune disease causing hair loss

[fightforfreedom]

6. No, she cuts her hair short because she gets bald spots.

[hlthe2b]

18. Could you be any more insensitive? She has alopecia areata and has frequently spoken about it

despite her own discomfort. It is an autoimmune condition over which she has little control.

Her short haircut is to make it less obvious. Just as with Congresswoman Aryanna Pressley who shares the same diagnosis. Are you going to make fun of her too?




Do I think Rock intentionally went after her with knowledge of her condition? No. It was a joke gone quite bad from a clueless person that started an escalating storm of emotional responses and with a lot of unfortunate aftermath.

[we can do it]

27. I have alopecia and keep my hair short. I'm sick of idiot comments.

Suggestions that I should grow my hair and what bathroom I should be in - which is most infuriating.

Fuck your ignorant, insensitive comment.

[Sunsky]

36. Well publicized does not

Mean everyone knew about it. Many are just learning that she has this disorder from this incident. I always thought she and her family just cut their hair short. Grandma, Jada, and Willow all sport short/ no hair. Many of us thought it was just their thing. Take my family, for instance, the women all have long thick hair but when they reach a certain age, they cannot be bothered with the maintenance and they all cut their hair short to bald. All my aunts have short to no hair, not one has alopecia. It's their choice. One that I don't understand but maybe one day I'll join them because maintaining my natural hair can be a challenge lol.

[uponit7771]

52. +1,

[NYC Liberal]

3. It's not even an insult. GI Jane was a badass and the hero in that movie.

If it was meant to be an insult or some kind of "roast", there are plenty of offensive references he could have come up with. Like "Freaks" or something.

[Johnny2X2X]

12. The more I think about it, I agree

It honestly could just as easily been seen as words of encouragement. Don't worry girl, I love you, there are roles out there for you even if you're bald. I mean, I get why people would be insulted too, but this wasn't something way over the line of decency.

[hlthe2b]

22. I see you are going to mansplain to Pinkett Smith as to what she can find insulting and what she can

Not.

She has alopecia areata and has frequently spoken about it despite her own discomfort. It is an autoimmune condition over which she has little control. For someone whose appearance is foremost in her professional acting career it hardly takes much to realize why she might be sensitive. despite her repeated candor talking about it.

Her short haircut is to make it less obvious. Just as with Congresswoman Aryanna Pressley who shares the same diagnosis. Are you going to make fun of her too?




Do I think Rock intentionally went after her with knowledge of her condition? No. It was a joke gone quite bad from a clueless person that started an escalating storm of emotional responses and with a lot of unfortunate aftermath.

[NYC Liberal]

24. Nobody made fun of anyone. There was no mockery or insult, whatsoever.

If she found the reference to be insulting and she wants to express her feelings about it, she can and should do that. She hasn't yet. The only reaction has been her husband responding with physical violence and lots of other people opining on it.

[hlthe2b]

25. Her face expressed it. You have no right to decide how others should interpret jokes @ their expense

It is unbelievably insensitive and yes, arrogant to do so. Did you likewise defend Trump's jokes at the expense of the disabled? I'd imagine so, since you have no conception of what it is like to be belittled for health conditions beyond one's control

[NYC Liberal]

26. Yet that's exactly what you are doing right now.

How arrogant of you. You've decided you know what she thinks when she has yet to say anything. I, however, think she should express her feelings for herself. That's the opposite of deciding for her. Her husband apparently believes she is incapable of defending herself. The guy seems like a misogynist asshole.

Ultimately, nobody has the right to physically assault anyone because they were offended on someone else's behalf. If I punched someone I'd be in jail. When you're rich and famous, the rules don't apply. Yet again.

since you have no conception of what it is like to be belittled for health conditions beyond one's control

Nice assumption.

Also, nobody was belittled.

[hlthe2b]

28. Your own words underscore my points.

So, keep on with this and show the world who you are. Your attitude is petty and misogynistic and disrespectful to women and those suffering medical issues.

[NYC Liberal]

29. Projection. That's what you're doing right now.

I think she can and should speak for herself. You deign to assume what she’s thinking and have no problem putting your own thoughts and feelings in her mouth. Not a good look.

[hlthe2b]

31. The defense of those who know they are in the wrong--accuse others of your own projection.

No one is buying it, but I guess it works for some of our most aggressive adversaries, so why not try...

[Buckeyeblue]

46. Right...he would have said she's playing uncle Fester's wife in the new Adam's Family

Or would have referred to her as the eight ball beside Will Smith. Or he would have shielded his eyes and said I can't read the teleprompter because of the glare off Jada's head.

[uponit7771]

53. +1,

[MerryHolidays]

4. How many OPs have you posted on this same topic today?

Is it really that big of a deal to have least 4 DU threads that you've started today?

[DURHAM D]

10. Good question.

This issue is showing us who some posters really are.

[Ohio Joe]

33. +1 - nt

[WhiskeyGrinder]

5. It's not up to you to decide whether it's a terrible insult to her or not.

[dixiechiken1]

9. Apparently, it's not up to her either...

It's up to her husband.

[WhiskeyGrinder]

13. She made it clear how she felt. He decided to do something about it.

[dixiechiken1]

19. Doubtful she meant for him to go all caveman...

She's a strong woman. AND she's a mother. Zero doubt in my mind she couldn't have handled that shit with nothing more than a look. And it would've been more effective.

[Polybius]

30. Well Rock won't be insulting her again

However you feel about the slap, it was super-effective.

[dixiechiken1]

32. Yeah, it was awesome. 🙄🙄🙄

[Polybius]

38. I never said that

I only said that the intent was to shut up Rock, and it did. So it was effective. Doesn't mean it was nice.

[uponit7771]

39. +1,

[dem4decades]

15. And it's up to Will Smith to decide when to be violent?

[Johnny2X2X]

16. And it's not up to her husband to assault someone over it

Like other threads have alluded to, Will Smith was probably still sore over jokes from earlier in the show.

"Jada, I love you, can't wait to see you in GI Jane II" Could be seen as an insult or encouragement even, big whoop, act like an adult and keep control of yourself.

[hlthe2b]

14. There are plenty of aspects to this & neither is blameless, but your reaction to the joke misses the

the entire point and merely shows that on this issue, I'm afraid you are uninformed to the point of extreme insensitivity. Please educate yourself.

It was a joke that went bad and a spouse's overly and inappropriately protective instinctive reaction to seeing someone devastated by sensitivity over a medical condition-- for which they have bravely spoken and have no control. Appearance has meaning beyond the superficial when one's identity and profession depend on them. So, sensitivity to being the brunt of jokes over issues beyond one's control is hardly unexpected. Yet, it is possible that despite Pinkett-Smith's repeated public candor on the cause of her hair loss had not found its way to Rock's consciousness---just as it apparently hasn't with you.

That said, there were other aspects to Will Smith's reaction to Rock's joke (and Jada's) that he started to touch on in his Oscar acceptance speech that enter into the unfortunate escalation on stage. Nothing is so simple as we might like to make it. In this case, a perfect emotional storm culminated in an unfortunate act--one which I'd bet all sides will regret for some time to come. I'm appreciative of people like Denzel Washington who were able to step in to de-escalate the situation. It was unfortunate all the way around, but an emotional night for many.

[uponit7771]

40. Please stop, "protective instinctive reaction" come on he thought it was funny too. It was his

... spouses reaction to it that got him upset then he acted IMMATURELY with emotion.

There was nothing protective about that outside of petulant privilege.

I agree with Howard Stern, these attitudes is what brings the Weinstein's and Trump; Privilege people in the US fuck up and break the law and there are GOOP GOBS of people who don't think they should be LAWFULLY punished because [enter whatever].

If Jada had kept laughing he would have kept laughing.

[hlthe2b]

42. Please Stop yourself

You are being condescending as hell and I'm not having it. Disagree as you wish, but don't tell others what to do or think. DONE!

[Demsrule86]

45. +1000

[uponit7771]

47. Didn't mean to be condescending. Will Smith thought the joke was funny that's a fact not in

... dispute

[hlthe2b]

48. No. He was still in receiving mode from Rock's earlier joke at Smith's expense--which was funny

when Rock interjected the comment about Pickett Smith. It took a few seconds for Smith to react. You CLEARLY have not seen the full video of the entire episode, including the 2-3 minutes BEFORE Rock's Pinkett-Smith joke. But, believe what you will.

The inability to understand why this calling out of Pinkett Smith's bald appearance secondary to alopecia areata as a joke is so damned wrong yet seems to be a gender-linked issue here on DU. It is appalling. Educate yourself. And, no, conflating the issue of the degrading joke with somehow defending a violent reaction is equally disingenuous and wrong, yet some here are doing so.

[uponit7771]

49. Come on people ... no, we can see the video and there was NO DOUBT a pause between the

... jokes at around 22 seconds in to the below video.

People are twisting reality in knots here and on other forums trying to convince people Will Smith wasn't laughing at the joke about GI Jane ... one person is trying to proffer that Smith didn't know who GI Jane was !!!

Come on people

[hlthe2b]

54. Take your mansplaining re: how we are ALL SUPPOSED TO REACT and condescension elsewhere.

Your insensitivity toward a real and embarrassing personal medical condition in a black woman actor whose livelihood depends on her appearance goes beyond all acceptable bounds. DONE

[uponit7771]

55. REALLY ?! Showing a video highlighting the pause between jokes WS was laughing at is "man ...

... splaining" !?

Okay, if that helps you cope

[hlthe2b]

56. and predictably, now YOU ARE THE VICTIM.

Good gawd.

[uponit7771]

58. This is false, I'm am NOT a victim of anything in this interaction. I'm not going to believe ...

... 1. there was no pause between jokes CR was telling and 2. WS didn't think the joke was funny

He did

[fishwax]

21. I think her green dress and ability to play tough, kick-ass characters played into it too

It's not as though it was just the lack of hair. But, that said, the joke missed the mark of good taste, and it is unfortunate how it played out.

[Demsrule86]

44. No, it was all about the hair...what a jerk.

[Catherine Vincent]

34. Yeah, it wasn't that bad

But Chris has said much worse hurtful jokes about others so he had it coming. I don't like violence but he'll get over it, even though I was a little sad for him. And Will should have waited til they were backstage.

[LexVegas]

37. Of course it wasn't that bad. Smith has lost it. nt

[uponit7771]

41. K&R, made similar OP got similar results

[Demsrule86]

43. It was a joke about her medical condition that she is losing hair...and

not very funny.

[Whiskeytide]

50. Would you be cool with it if, at his next rally, Тяцмp...

… said “Joe, I love you. I can’t wait to see you as the public defender in My Cousin Vinny II”?

Or if Tucker Carlson said that on his show tonight?

It was a shitty, cheap-shot joke. I cannot understand why people here don’t get that. Just because it didn’t deserve a smacking doesn’t mean it wasn’t a shitty thing to say. Smdh.

[CrackityJones75]

57. What I find amazing

What I find amazing is the amount of people trying to make Rock look like an evil mastermind who knew Jada’s medical condition and was just waiting fir his moment to torture her.

Now maybe comedy that roasts people for their appearance isn’t funny…. But it has been a part of hollywood and comedy for fucking ever. Not like Will Smith hasn’t engaged in it as well. Listen to the opening song of his hit tv program back in the day.

But here’s the thing, Will Smiths reaction was so far over the line it is ridiculous. Just absolutely ridiculous. Watching what Chris said…. It wasn’t bad really at all in my opinion IF he didn’t know what the situation was.

[dsp3000]

59. Chris Rock is a stand-up comedian.... definitely didn't deserved to get punched for that.