I have to preface this with the fact that I don't know the answer. After thinking about it for awhile, I realized not knowing the answer has never stopped me before so here goes.
First question is: Who started it? Who fired the first arrow? It was Chris Rock as far as I know. It's not okay to make fun of someone's disease. How in hell can that be okay? It's cruel and imho should not be tolerated. Chris Rock caused personal injury to Jada.. she was hurt and upset. Is that what freedom of speech is for, to hurt others? Some think lying is protected under the freedom of speech principle. Naw.. don't think so. It's like saying you should be able to kill someone... it's all about the freedom... Obviously, there are limits.... as a quote from Jefferson clearly states.
So, Chris Rock.. never want to hear another word out of his mouth about anything.
Then there's the other side of the coin and what Will Smith did. He did the one thing that civilized people can NEVER do except in self-defense and he was under zero physical threat. Some may think he was justified. After all, his wife was being made fun of because of her disease. Yep, that would have pissed me off too. Do you think Smith didn't exercise self-control? He did use an open hand when he may of really wanted to use a close fist.
Irregardless, he was wrong to do what he did. If we can't keep our hands to ourselves, we'll never reach a civilized state and there will be no end to wars.
What Will Smith could've done... kept his mouth shut and his hands to himself until he went up to accept his award. Then, he could have addressed Chris Rock and expressed that making fun of a person's disease was unkind to say the least and asked CR to come to the microphone and apologize to Jada saying he was sorry for hurting her. I'd have had a lot of respect for that.
CR probably would've apologized I'm guessing.
Let cooler wiser heads prevail and stay on the road to civilization.
thanks for sharing your opinions! always happy to read and entertain new ideas as im also always willing to change my mind based on other people opinions or facts..
I would like to mention a few points based on what you said:
As a comedian and someone hosting the show it is quite normal for him to do what he did.. in fact that IS literally his job. ALso its good to realise that his joke was not only very light, but also making fun of the movie GI joe and not Wills wife.. although it can clearly be seen differently. He was almost complementing her not putting her down!
i agree.. however Chris did not know about her disease.. it was just a very lighthearted joke based on her hair and the movie GI JOE..
freedom of speech means just that.. and comedy is a bit rude as we all know.. Freedom of speech is very different to freedom of slapping someone in the face.. and Will could have just shouted at Chris, as could his wife.
well he was the one laughing at it.. he only slapped Chris as his wife looked very upset.. and Will has some emotional issues relating to their partnership.. you ask what he could have done was heckled CHris.. just like any audience member has done for decades in a stand up comedy situation..
It kinda boils down to whether Chris Rock knew about Jada's condition before hand. If he really didn't know, then it's pretty much all on Smith.
Not a fan of making fun of people, let along making a career of it.
he did not know.. although it was public knowledge.. Chris had NO idea.. it was clear from his reaction and what he said just after "that was a nice one!"
As well as the fact that he said he had no idea she had this disease.. Chris is a clever guy.. and a nice guy.. i believe him.. Chris has been doing stand up for ALONG TIME.. i think he wouldnt be dumb enough to make that joke if he knew in such a prominent situation.. ive seen a lot of his stand up work,, its not his style.. hes not nasty like some of the comedians
Makes sense to me. :)
so nice to talk with someone who is OPEn and hasnt just made their mind up without any desire to listen.. i love to change my mind also.. i do it all the time.. but i do need to hear something significant to make me do so..
much love and light to you !
Thanks Alex.. I TRY to "hold on loosely) not to miss the truth when I hear it. I have no problem changing my views when new info is presented. It's not a contest to see who's right, it's about the truth.. truth doesn't have an ego..
Much love and light back to you. kindness is like jelly... you can't spread it without getting some on yourself..
hah ah.. your putting a smile on my face and in my heart <3
just for fun, heres a vid showing what a hypocrite Will is!
:)
good find.. busted..
I do want to say that I thought Chris Rock handled it about as well as a person could. I like that he's taken some time to respond,, to think it all through first. I'll be interested to hear what he has to say..
yes, he's a special one im thinking.. i don't think he will be saying anything.. as there's not much left to say.. he's a legend now in many people's eyes.. full props.. im watching his stand up routines now, hes a real comedian and doesnt do cheap jokes..
maybe the best thing that's ever happened to his career.... tickets for his shows have spiked in price and demand from what I read.
Yeah, he may not respond at all....he's riding high at the moment.. don't want to jeopardize the positive momentum.
enjoy your laughter,my friend.
The joke was: "I'm waiting for GI Jane 2 to come out".
Explain to me how that makes fun of a disease? Jada Pinkett has had basically no hair for the last 25 years, and this is the first I'm hearing about any condition. Having said all that... yes, hurtful speech IS part of our freedom. You can't incite violence, but you are free to be hateful. It's such an important distinction that needs to be highlighted (now more than ever).
If this was a real incident (which I highly doubt), Will Smith should be charged with assault and be stripped of his Oscar. We're canceling people left and right for political views and geographic location... but Will Smith gets an Academy Award? What a world. lol
"Jada Pinkett has had basically no hair for the last 25 years" You might be right but searching for images from 2017 didn't show her with no hair... IDK
" hurtful speech IS part of our freedom. You can't incite violence, but you are free to be hateful"
sad...
being hateful doesn't incite violence?
Did you see any pictures of her with long hair? The first time I saw her was in the movie "Demon Night" and she had her hair cut right to her scalp and it was bleached blond. It has been her career look, from what I can tell.
Being hateful doesn't incite violence on its face, no. Are people not allowed to be racist or to make fun of fat people or really skinny people? Of course! Is it nice? No. But there is a very clear line.
Hateful: I hate [insert person].
Illegal: We should harm [insert person].
Hateful: I think [insert color] people are inferior.
Illegal: Next time you see a [insert color] person, spit in their face.
And again... the joke was not even that bad. Dave Chappelle has filmed skits making fun of kids with cancer... and you didn't catch Ricky Gervais host the Golden Globes five times? He was brutal: roasting everyone, drinking on stage, constant swearing, pedophilia jokes. When did people become so thin-skinned?
"Dave Chappelle has filmed skits making fun of kids with cancer"
I never liked Don Rickles either. :) personal preference maybe.. I'll be me and you'll be you and it's all good.. as far as I know.
pedophilia jokes?? that's as funny as making fun of kids with cancer
Her hair... yes.. saw her with long hair... maybe a wig.. who knows... not sure that it matters.
kind regards
I never said what I find funny... I'm just saying that people can make fun of whatever they want, and we are free to love it or hate it. I don't like racists either, but I will admit that they are free to think more or less about anyone. We have laws in place to protect us past that... like SLAPPING SOMEONE IN THE FACE. 😕
fair point..
Laws... hehe don't get me started...
enjoy ! Will 'the hypocrite' Smith!