Forum Topic

Will Smith

Publicity stunt? Staged or real? What do you think? Either way it's got a lot of attention."There is one thing worse than being talked about" and all that.

Chris Blackwell ● 1640d56 Comments

Perhaps the age of chivalry is not dead?

Vanessa Smith ● 1640d

My hunch is that it wasn’t staged if only because Will Smith came across as such a dick, especially in his drama Queen apology.

Alastair Banton ● 1640d

He laughed along at the joke and the slap looked a bit theatrical to me, with Rock not even touching his face afterward.You decide.

Keith Iddon ● 1640d

As real as the Westminster Bridge Dummy

Michael Brown ● 1640d

Where Chris Rock was brought up you don’t really flinch with one slap also he never would’ve expected Will Smith to have attacked him it’s assault. How was the team of writers at the academy to know that she had alopecia, as her daughter Willow also has a shaved head in the new MGK video.

Arnie Devi ● 1640d

Unfortunately I can't get the link to work Michael. I remember seeing the video of this, and I must admit the body looked remarkably like a dummy as I recall. But why and how all those in the immediate vicinity, were 'deceived' into thinking otherwise, escapes me. Or was that all part of the deception? How did the 'body get there in the first place, and how, when, and by who was it removed? The local Joe Public must have seen everything, but there are no appropriate videos.  So many questions, and not enough answers. Much like Lee Rigby...

Brian Joseph Coyle ● 1640d

Link works for me, Brian. Address is: https://153news.net/watch_video.php?v=SYO7RDOYK7O1It's a copy of my own video, which YouTube took down. All on the bridge were in on the scam when the dummies were sprawled across it.

Michael Brown ● 1640d

I heard on the radio that they’d had some rehearsals and Will Smith had already heard the joke. Maybe it was his wife’s reaction that made him feelhe had to react. Who knowns the truth.

Maggie Dodge ● 1640d

"How was the team of writers at the academy to know that she had alopecia"Because there has been so much written about it since last year so if an Academy writer didn't know they should be sacked because they are out of touch and not fit for purpose.  Anyway it showed up Smith as being the Dick he is. If you are continually parading your family as high profile to get publicy all the time you should take the good with the bad. Rock handled the situation marvellously. Good on him.

Steve Taylor ● 1640d

So Will Smith's macho man 'you've insulted my woman' act has overshadowed best director woman prize and all the other awards, as he falls back on the same violent male response he so deplored when wrote about his own father's domestic abuse.  And in front of TV millions, he showed his towering sense of entitlement and power.  No more Mr Nice Guy!?As for Chris Rock, I assume he was employed to contribute some edgy observations as part of the accepted format of these events, to show how the Hollywod great and the good can take it with a smile. Maybe time for a rethink on that as well.

Peter Evans ● 1640d

From what I saw, Chris Rock didn’t put his hand up to his face. Wouldn’t  that be a first reaction to being whacked?

Maggie Dodge ● 1640d

Hardly moved on his feet either,well a few seconds after atleastNormaly when an actor gets slapped they violently move ones head to the side but the legs just dont move. Think he got a slap of the fingers in that case.

Julian Pavey ● 1640d

Will Smith should not have resorted to violence, that was wrong.But the "joke" was also wrong - Jada Smith has a long term medical condition, it is not acceptable for a comedian to pick someone out of the audience and make fun of their medical condition or disability.  Watching some of the US coverage they have been incredibly hypocritical - in 2016 they all condemned Trump for making fun of a disabled reporter but in 2022 they didn't condemn Rock for making fun of Jada Smith, what is the difference apart from fact Jada is a very successful black women.

Justin Stephenson ● 1640d

“ in 2016 they all condemned Trump for making fun of a disabled reporter but in 2022 they didn't condemn Rock for making fun of Jada Smith, ”Ridiculous comparison. To compare the actions of a presidential candidate who makes fun of a person doing their job and trying to earn a living, and to compare the actions of a comedian whose job is to make jokes about celebrities!!  Celebrities thrive on the limelight and can make a lot of money being constantly in the limelight. Chris Rock was just doing his job. And he does it well.

Steve Taylor ● 1639d

"..and not enough answers. Much like Lee Rigby..." Below is a photo of the burly Birth Certificate-less Fusilier being carried away, apparently. See anything odd?

Michael Brown ● 1639d

Michael - what on Earth has any of your incompassionate waffling nonsense got to do with Will Smith?

Chris Blackwell ● 1639d

Isn't 'roasting' an intrinsic part of the vanity-fest that is the Oscars ceremony? I seem to remember Ricky Gervaise being highly praised for his insulting monologues. It's also a fact that, as others have pointed out, Will Smith initially laughed at Rock's remarks. Ah well, whatever the truth, I suppose it was a bit of light relief from the horrible events going on in the world at the moment.

Colin Jordan ● 1639d

Only took two arms to carry a dead body?

Brian Joseph Coyle ● 1639d

Well spotted, Brian - one hand each; and the guy at the front is lifting his arm - it's not even straight.

Michael Brown ● 1639d

Never watch this but having seen the clip wonder why there is no sign ofsecurity to prevent it.

Janice Evans ● 1639d

Looks like rigor mortis has set in too...

Michael Brown ● 1639d

So presumably if you are OK with making "jokes" about someone's medical condition you will also be OK with them making jokes about the colour of their skin - racist, misogynist, anti-Semitic "jokes" are all OK with you provided the victim is a celebrity.Personally those sort of attempts at humour disgust me and fortunately have been no longer part of British comedian acts (with the inevitable few exceptions) for at least the last 20-30 years

Justin Stephenson ● 1638d

No point taking anything Steve Taylor posts seriously.

Richard Greenhough ● 1638d

Both Will Smith and Chris Rock are overpaid, self entitled guys seduced by their own celebrity and think they can get away with bad behaviour.

Loraine Pemberton ● 1638d

Equating the two, Loraine, is false.However inappropriate his words may have been, what Chris Rock said is not abusive. Physical violence with the world as the witness is a completely different level. I read the academy has started an investigation. This makes me think of Mel Gibson and his antisemitic behavior. Smith is likely to be an outcast for a while, and then inch his way back with the help of highly paid professional fixers he can afford. But to stay in the audience and then get up, accept an award, and blather on after you just struck someone violently is absurd. It gives the signal the behavior is somehow okay. Somehow allowed. Somehow normal.

David Lesniak ● 1637d

David, both were wrong in words (Rock) and (Smith) action, two wrongs have never made a right. Both behaved badly. I stand by my original post and you are obviously entitled to your opinion.

Loraine Pemberton ● 1637d

Oops.

Stewart Jones ● 1637d

'Roasting' is a thing in the USA and there really are no holds barred. I guess in that climate somebody was bound to respond badly at some point and Will Smith obviously objected to the attack on his wife. On the other hand his reaction was completey without dignity or awareness of where he was and the live audience of millions witnessing his actions. He should have been removed immediately or at least prevented from approaching the stage in the first place - I mean at any other event security would be all over you.It does smack of an assumed privilege which, as it turns out, was not misplaced.

Chris Blackwell ● 1637d

Really - two 'up themselves' individuals - and all this fuss. Does anyone really care? They are as bad as one another.

Vanessa Smith ● 1637d

Loraine, Chris Rock's humor has always been on the cusp of just about everything. It has always treaded the line between good/bad, right/wrong, appropriate/inappropriate. He has also gone out of his way to offer up support to minorities across the board. Nothing he said was actually a crime. Granted, it hit close to the bone, but it was legal.Will Smith physically hit a person. Clearly illegal. Shame you can't see the difference.

David Lesniak ● 1637d

Vanessa, completely agree with you - both as bad as each other

Loraine Pemberton ● 1637d

No, they are not as bad as one another unless you think making a joke in poor taste is the same as hitting someone.Expel the "Best Actor" from the Oscar Ceremony for five years would be my take on it.Hopefully that will give him enough time to learn some self control.Idiot.

Adrian Irving ● 1637d

.....and while I think of let the idiot keep his Oscar.Instead of reminding him of a great achievement it will now hang round his like Colridge's albatross.

Adrian Irving ● 1637d

Making fun of a woman suffering from alopecia, her 'crowning glory',  to thousands of people at a worldwide televised event was unacceptable and in extremely poor taste and humiliating for the target of his cheap jibe. Was Will Smith's action appropriate? Probably not, I can only wonder how many men would sit back and do nothing and let their wives be publicly ridiculed. Hindsight is sadly not a talent many people have.

Loraine Pemberton ● 1637d

The joke was vetted, for one thing. Yet you maintain Smith may have been within his right to assault.

David Lesniak ● 1637d

"The joke was vetted"By whom ? Idiots with zero sense of empathy, propriety and common sense ?David, I'm not entering into a ping pong debate with you, therefore let's agree to disagree. End of.

Loraine Pemberton ● 1637d

Lack of security was the problem.

Janice Evans ● 1637d

Who cares if it was legal - it was tasteless and not funny as was Rebel Wilson as the BAFTAs.

Philippa Bond ● 1637d

'how many men would sit back and do nothing and let their wives be publicly ridiculed'Is it part of a man's role to fight their wife's corner? What of those who aren't partnered?Just asking people's opinion here.

Anne England ● 1637d

“ Lack of security was the problem.”Not really. They have adequate security to prevent non desirables from entering the venue but, as the audience are all high profile “celebrities” they probably never considered they would need security people ‘guarding’ the podium.  This has never happened before. It’s not as if they expect a bunch of yobbos in attendance. It not a UK football match!!

Steve Taylor ● 1637d

Loraine, lack of empathy, propriety and common sense are not illegal. Granted, the joke may have been in poor taste. But there was nothing illegal about it.Dig your heels in. But you are trying to compare poor taste with physical assault. It's not going well. Nor should it ever.

David Lesniak ● 1636d

Oscars security asked Will Smith to leave after the incident took place. Somehow he was able to stay.

David Lesniak ● 1636d

I think we must remember that in America, Hollywood celebs have a god-like status.

Colin Jordan ● 1636d

Celebs in the UK are afforded the same God-like  status, if not more!  Hence so many UK celebs move to the USA to get some peace away from the adoring admirers in the UK. All quite sick really.

Steve Taylor ● 1636d

Here’s one take on it I saw:“Let’s everybody be honest here: Will Smith was laughing his ass off at Chris Rock’s G.I. Jane joke. Will Smith had a wide grin and was laughing out loud, but Jada Pinkett was glaring at Chris Rock.Then Jada turned her cold glare on Will Smith, he felt his balls wither, and that’s when he stopped laughing and turned violent.Will Smith was suddenly going to defend Jada’s dignity, but only after he laughed his ass off.That was not just hypocritical, that was pussy-whipped, and everything Will Smith did after the G.I. Jane joke – assaulting Chris Rock, bellowing obscenities, shedding crocodile tears, professing his love of humanity and making insincere apologies – was all because Jada brought down the hammer on his jellyfish balls.The only honest thing Will Smith did last night was laugh at the joke.”

Steve Taylor ● 1636d

"...and while I think of IT let the idiot keep his Oscar.Instead of reminding him of a great achievement it will now hang round his NECK like Colridge's albatross."I swear those two words where there when I typed it but obviously they weren't. Oh dear, and yes,I have already been to Specsavers.I would add that if the idiot did this in the business world he would be very lucky to keep his job. Clearly a case of gross misconduct.Furthermore I think the presenter reacted very professionally in the circumstances.With the benefit of hindsight maybe the organisers should have run the joke past what's her name in advance.

Adrian Irving ● 1636d

LOL“ He felt his balls wither‘Best comment in this thread. My tuppance worth: It’s violence unless it’s self defence.

Arnie Devi ● 1636d

Steve, safety/security will need to be in place next time.

Janice Evans ● 1636d

"Hence so many UK celebs move to the USA to get some peace away from the adoring admirers in the UK"I am sure the Yanks would welcome you with open arms, Steve.

Richard Greenhough ● 1636d

"safety/security will need to be in place next time."I doubt that will happen, Janice. It isn't a UK football stadium. It's a gala event! Just one bad apple shouldn't turn it into a gladiator ring in the future. Anyway the event has lost it's appeal over the last decade and viewings are radically reduced. Not least by the Harvey Weinstein scandal where it has been shown just how corrupt the system is. The Oscar winners are no longer rewarded for their brilliance. It's all about political correctness.

Steve Taylor ● 1636d

No - tactlessness and tastelessness in a very public setting.

Philippa Bond ● 1636d

So do you think it would have been better if Jada had gone on stage and slapped Rock ?

Richard Greenhough ● 1636d

Never did watch it Steve.

Janice Evans ● 1636d

Years ago, when my hair was just regrowing after chemo, I was subjected o a nasty unprovoked street insult about my “ short” hair  and it was devastating at the time. The yob wouldn’t have had a clue why my hair was so short and assumed it was my choice. It was deeply and memorably painful. In my view such “jokes” are not Ok whether he knew the cause of Jada’s situation or not, but I think American culture has a greater tolerance of such crude“jokes” /insults than UK culture and prizes free speech above all. Chris Rock’s behaviour was shocking to me and many in the UK but he has been lauded by the American public.Will Smith wildly and wrongly  over reacted, but I feel sorry for him because I know how emotional matters like hair loss are. But I think Chris Rock should also apologise to Jada and all those who have experienced hair loss. But sadly he won’t.

Jackie Elton ● 1635d

He may have over-reacted, but he also had a good laugh at the 'joke' himself before demonstrating his outrage.

Colin Jordan ● 1635d

"but I feel sorry for him because I know how emotional matters like hair loss are."I can only imagine how emotional matters like hair loss can be but I don't feel sorry for Smith because he thought the 'joke' was hilarious as his first reaction. When he realised his mistake, or felt the daggers from his wive's eyes, he tried to act all macho in a feeble attempt to mitigate his own disgusting behaviour. Fact is - his laugh at the joke speaks more volumes than the 'joke' itself!

Steve Taylor ● 1635d