I'm 34. Grew up in the 90's. Will Smith is one of my All-time Favorite entertainers. I've seen every episode of the Fresh Prince multiple times. I bought his CD's. I've seen more of his movies than I can count. I have always thought very highly of Will Smith.
Last night was a disgrace. Will laughs at the joke. Laughing at it="I find this acceptable" His natural reaction/emotion was "this is ok." Then he realizes his wife didn't love it. So he resorts to violence. And this is what bothers me the most. He didn't do it because Chris Rock crossed a line in his eyes. He did it to "prove himself" to his wife.
Some people are saying comedians have deserved this for a long time. And I find that preposterous. It's like going to a baseball game and being mad you got hit by a foul ball. You know what you're getting yourself into when you buy the ticket. If you don't want to be made fun of by comedians--don't go where they are--and that includes these celebrity award shows. Regardless, I don't find a comedian poking fun at someone's appearance something that makes violence acceptable.
I find it even more preposterous in defense of a celebrity with the status of Will Smith. Will Smith is in that icon category. Everyone and their grandma knows Will Smith from something. Your entire life is lived under a microscope. Your family is constantly being photographed and written about. Will has been to countless award shows where other people are made fun of. And Jada isn't JUST Will's wife. She's done some acting of her own. She's developed a following. So this isn't a new experience to the Smith's.
People talk about "You're free to say whatever you want, but not free of the consequences." Well, sure. But a comedian standing on stage talking about your appearance is a lot different than someone walking up face to face with your wife and saying something ugly. The whole world knows it's a joke. There is no personal attack here. And so--are we really ok with slaps? What about fists? Brass knuckles? Knives? Guns? Where do we draw the line on what sort of retaliation is ok when someone calls your wife bald?
He called her bald. She's losing her hair. From alopecia. If the worst thing you get from Chris Rock is that you don't have hair--when you in fact don't have hair--you're alright. Maybe you don't feel like you're alright. But it doesn't warrant violence. It's not a strike worthy offense. "Well what is a strike worthy offense?" Not a lot of stuff. I don't know. But I'm confident that this isn't. If a comedian called my wife bald--I would not even consider striking him. And I don't think that makes me a bad husband or a bad "protector."
Which brings me to my final point. That speech. Will didn't say he was wrong or sorry. He's a vessel of love. He's a protector. He's channeling his inner Richard Williams. GTFO of here with that garbage. You thought you looked bad in front of your wife after you laughed at a joke she didn't like, so you struck a guy that is smaller than you. As someone else said, let's have the Rock make the same joke next year and see how much protecting Will wants to do.