Will Smith appears to hit Chris Rock after joke about his wife

[ificandream]

This discussion thread was locked as off-topic by Omaha Steve (a host of the Latest Breaking News forum).

Source: NBC News/Daniel Arkin

"King Richard" star Will Smith appeared to hit Chris Rock after the stand-up comedian made a joke about the actor's wife, Jada Pinkett Smith.

Rock, presenting the Oscar for best documentary feature, said that he was excited to watch Pinkett Smith in "G.I. Jane 2."

In 2018, Pinkett Smith revealed she was diagnosed with alopecia.

Smith then walked to the stage at the Dolby Theatre and seemed to hit Rock.



Read more: https://www.nbcnews.com/pop-culture/awards/live-blog/live-blog-oscars-2022-live-updates-n1293280?featureFlag=true#ncrd1293338

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From this, it appears this was not a prank.

[Frasier Balzov]

1. It was the genuine article.

Watch it again and listen to the sound of it.

Bye Will.

[Polybius]

3. I need a video

Any links yet?

[ificandream]

5. YouTube

[AZLD4Candidate]

19. With sound

[ificandream]

4. Here's another link ... more evidence that it was a real thing.

https://www.usmagazine.com/entertainment/news/oscars-2022-will-smith-hits-chris-rock-over-jada-g-i-jane-joke/

[58Sunliner]

6. Good for him. Chris Rock should not have said that.

[LisaL]

7. So if I don't like what you said, I can smack you?

All righty then.

[58Sunliner]

9. If I ridicule you for a medical condition feel free.

[TimeToGo]

23. No

[BigmanPigman]

48. Are you serious?

[obamanut2012]

54. Not good for him, it's fucking assault and battery

Toxic masculinity at its finest.

By your logic, anyone can hit anyone who says anything they don't like.

[yardwork]

59. Let's talk about this.

I understand defending someone one loves. But going onstage and punching somebody? No, not ok. It's illegal for a reason.

As mentioned elsewhere in this thread, we all hear people make jokes that insult somebody we care about. Sexist, racist, homophobic jokes. Jokes making fun of people who are overweight. Jokes about specific states and regions. Jokes about people who live in trailers. The world is full of jokes at the expense of other people. The normal response to that is not to punch someone.

And if you're saying "a man has a right to defend his wife" - this is the 21st century. Women aren't the property of their husbands anymore.

[redstateblues]

8. Watched it several times. It looked staged

[Cha]

26. The sound part that Smith yelled from

his seat didn't look staged.... "Leave my wife's name out of your fucking mouth!!"

https://democraticunderground.com/10142894931#post19

💙💛

[MontanaMama]

36. Def wasn't staged.

Not sure why Chris Rock thought it was funny to say something about Jada Pinkett Smith’s hair…or lack of it. It wasn’t funny. The look on her face confirmed it wasn’t funny. Maybe Will shouldn’t have slapped Rock…but Rock’s joke was not necessary.

Hey my friend!

[Cha]

42. Agree wholeheartedly.. Chris

Rock should not have told a "joke" about Jada's alopecia.. I'm thinking and hoping he wishes he hadn't.

It's a devastating condition that according to Jada.. came to her out of the blue.

And Will Smith should not have gone on stage and smacked Chris Rock.

I actually saw her in an Episode of The Equalizer.. and I just thought she had shaved her head for whatever reason.. I didn't know if it was Jada at first so I looked up the cast for that episode.



💙💛

[appmanga]

56. He's a comedian...

...and nobody, and nothing, is so sacred it's above comedy.

And that wasn't staged. I know that move Chris Rock made, and that wasn't fake.

[frazzled]

31. Not staged. I just heard the sound that was cut

Smith yelled back at the stage (after the punch) “Don’t you ever fucking talk about my wife.” And he was fuming mad. It was real, and entirely unjustified. A pretty innocuous joke as far as Oscar barbs go.

The line in the acceptance speech where Smith said he had had a calling from God to protect people ... whoa. First of all, Serena and Venus do not need your protection, as you suggested. Nor, probably, did the young actresses. I’ve got news for you, Will, if women feel they need your protection, they’ll ask for it. Mostly, we can take care of ourselves. Maybe you think God appointed you savior of womankind, but it just came off as (patriarchal) assholery and macho self-importance, IMO. God, I assure you, had nothing to do with it ... and I doubt She condones physical violence as a remedy for anything.

[ificandream]

10. Uncensored exchange from Japanese TV

Link to tweet

?s=20&t=RGuVagj7nASMKPx3wglO3A

[ificandream]

11. More video

Link to tweet

?s=20&t=RGuVagj7nASMKPx3wglO3A

[ificandream]

12. GQ story link

https://www.gq.com/story/will-smith-chris-rock-jada-pinkett-smith-oscars-2022?mbid=social_twitter&utm_medium=social&utm_brand=gq&utm_social-type=owned&utm_source=twitter

[Traildogbob]

13. Not sure it was

Received so well. Maybe the vocal would have accomplished his defense of Jada. I don’t know, I’m not in his shoes and can’t speak for the defense of his wife and the contrition she is battling. Must have hit a really bad nerve for him. I noticed the shock on Jada’s face after the joke and may have pushed Will to that level of anger. A bad moment.

[msongs]

14. and the oscar for most deserving punchee goes to... nt

[yaesu]

15. Just like professional sports I never watch the oscars, over paid people that really don't

make any meaningful contribution to society.

[texasfiddler]

16. What would Ted Cruz Do? NT

[AZLD4Candidate]

22. Run to Cancun after throwing his wife under the bus?

[2fast4u]

17. He's a jerk

Was a big fan way back 87/88 - Girls Ain’t Nothing But Trouble, Nightmare on My Street.

Watching interviews, his personality seemed to change post Fresh Prince of Bel Air, around the time of MIB. It turned me off.

[GreatShakes66]

18. Didn't even stagger Rock

....great actor, but apparently doesn't throw much of a punch.

[The Grand Illuminist]

20. Word is....

The LA 911 call center is getting a ton of calls over this and they only tell the caller they are aware of the situation.

[sometripod123]

21. Bad for Comedians and even worse for Democracy

Will Smith WAS one of my all time favorite people. But he has lost a STAN. My how the true colors have shown!! Because a sucker punching a fellow human LIVE on TV for a JOKE is not just messed up it puts a target on every comedian’s bad. It not only disrupted another social normal. It put out there that even a role model like Will Smith can sucker punch a guy with impunity. I have had to sit through RAPE jokes, sexist commentary but my gawd putting your hands on someone is never the answer!! These ripples will create not just fear for the ability for ppl to perform at but also gives license for ppl to physically assault others and still be upheld as a paragon. Not just disappointed- disgusted

[harumph]

24. bit of a pearl clutcher eh?

[Mr.Bill]

33. You raise some good points there. n/t

[BigmanPigman]

49. Ditto!

[yardwork]

57. Very good point that many of us hear racist, sexist, homophobic jokes and don't assault people.

By the logic of the posters here who are defending this, anybody who ever hears a joke that insults somebody they care about has the right to PUNCH somebody. Really.

[Marthe48]

60. Welcome to DU!

[Bayard]

25. Looked pretty real

Sorry, I'll take this over another tiresome lawsuit any day. But I don't like Chris Rock.

[Greybnk48]

27. Chris Rock should sue his ass off for assault and battery.

JFC. Smith is an actor and Chris Rock is a comedian. Can Chris Rock walk up and punch Smith in his face if he doesn't like his acting?

[flying_wahini]

28. And this is why people shouldn't carry guns.

[link:

Link to tweet

?s=21&t=WzDQUUs2QCrfv0TUCecYhA|

[SledDriver]

29. Should make for some good memes tomorrow

[tinrobot]

30. Well, there goes any respect I had for Will Smith

Completely unacceptable.

[HotRod Deluxe]

32. Show of Hands.....

Team Rock or Team Smith?

[Mr.Bill]

34. I'm betting by this time tomorrow

they make amends and are maybe even better friends than they ever were.

That's the outcome that would make me feel good about the condition of mankind, anyway.

[The Grand Illuminist]

35. Here is what will happen post-haste

I believe the LAPD will or has talked with Smith and Rock. I highly doubt Rock will press any charges to Smith because that is the professional thing to do. Through history, every comedian has done jokes that bombed to the point it ends up receiving physical reactions from audience members. This was no different and Rock took it as another day of his job.

[Behind the Aegis]

37. Poor attitudes all around.

In no way was Smith justified...NONE! As for Rock, c'mon man, 3rd person jokes are borderline, but when someone is sitting right there, stick to their ACTIONS not things they can't control, like a medical condition. Seems Class was not invited to the Oscars again.

[Haggis 4 Breakfast]

38. Jada Pinkett-Smith has contracted Alopecia.

It is a terrible, debilitating condition, and yes, humiliating thing. There is no cure, no treatment for it as of yet. The hair of Black women is their CROWN. It is an integral part of who they are. Is is more than just hair.

Recently, I listened to Congresswoman Pressley discuss her own experience with Alopecia, and how it has and is effecting her life. She had been wearing wigs and falls and such to cover over her balding spots until she said "Enough" and made a lengthy public statement.
It was heartbreaking to hear. Woman feel a loss of identity, a loss of feminism. of beauty. It's a nuanced thing from one person to another, so it might take time to become more of a topic of wider discussion. However, the few Black women who I know that have developed Alopecia have been devastated by it.

Jada's story came out last summer, so it's not like the news of it is new - at least not in the Black Community, especially at "The Red Table" Jada hosts with her mom.

Rock knew all this and still thought her medical condition was ripe for a joke. It wasn't. He should have know better. The comment was way inappropriate, callous and insensitive, and he should have thought about it before he opened his mouth.

After that, tv went to commercial, and Tyler Perry and Denzel raced over to Will to calm him. Then what we couldn't see was Denzel walking over to Jada to give her a hug, as she was in tears over the whole thing.

Will knew how this was affecting Jada and just acted out of empathy and compassion. I'd rather see heartfelt emotion than all the phony posturing shovelled at us everyday.

[ificandream]

39. Variety link

https://variety.com/2022/film/news/chris-rock-punches-will-smith-oscars-fight-1235216387/

[ificandream]

40. Chris Rock declines to file charges ...

https://variety.com/2022/film/news/chris-rock-police-report-will-smith-slap-oscars-1235216542/

[The Grand Illuminist]

43. That is what a professional comedian does.

As I said, professional comedians endure a lot of physical backlash over jokes that bombed. Rock is taking this as another day at the office.

[Cha]

45. TY.. of course not.. I'm thinking

he wishes he never told the damn "joke"..

💙💛

[ificandream]

41. The Academy blew it here ...

Given his history, the Academy should have known better than to use Chris Rock. He's been known to make controversial remarks before. But especially with his history with Will Smith's wife. It was very obvious with her reaction to the joke that she didn't appreciate it. I think he's lucky Will Smith only slapped him.

[The Grand Illuminist]

46. Smith is lucky no charges will be filed.

He has a record. Most notibly a 1989 aggrivated assault charge.

[BigmanPigman]

50. Really?!? Well, that says a lot right there.

Since he should be arrested but won't be (you and I aren't Hollywood Elite so we would be in jail, forced to take anger management classes, and pay a big fine) his career and reputation should go down the drain. He should be forced to give his Oscar back or go to jail...your choice Smith. He is trash in my book. His speech about LOVE, LOVE, LOVE was obviously 100% pure BS.

[LetMyPeopleVote]

44. No police report filed

Link to tweet

[Cha]

47. Rt💕🤷‍♂️ TY..

💙💛

[Crowman2009]

51. Wasn't Chris Rock whining about "cancel culture" recently?

Apparently he forgot that he wasn't on the internet when he cracked that joke, or that he thought the consequence he would receive was making a few million dollars less and later make up said lost money with a new unfunny Netflix special.

[LetMyPeopleVote]

52. LAPD Statement

Link to tweet

[yardwork]

58. Typical mealymouthed reporting. "Confront."

[The Jungle 1]

63. This happenes on the hocky ice every game!

Nothing happens.

[catsudon]

53. wow

Chris Rock makes joke about Will Smith’s wife: Will Smith bitch slaps him on the face

Will Smith’s wife cheats on him: Will Smith cries and apologizes to her on tv.

I don’t see how his reputation survives this.

[videohead5]

55. This did not look staged either

But it totally was. They were good friends.

[LongtimeAZDem]

61. But Smith laughed at the joke

[The Jungle 1]

62. Real bad taste in a joke.

He had to know that joke was going to hurt her.
I will give Rock credit for taking the smack and not attempting to retaliate. If you have it coming then take it.
If he really has balls then release a picture of your face this morning and give Smith the credit he deserves. If he does that it will all go away.

[Omaha Steve]

64. After a review by forum hosts....LOCKING

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