Don’t Listen to the People Justifying Will Smith Slapping Chris Rock

The 94th Academy Awards were overshadowed by the slap heard around the world. For reasons I don’t think even Will Smith fully understands, after comedian Chris Rock, who was presenting, made a G.I. Jane joke about Jada Pinkett Smith’s shaved head, Smith bounded onto the stage and slapped Rock for the insult to his wife. After Smith returned to his seat, he shouted twice, “Keep my wife’s name out of your fucking mouth!” Attendees at the Dolby Theater and viewers watching at home initially thought the slap was part of a bit, and they laughed. The baffling, uncomfortable truth soon sunk in: Yeah, that really happened. Will Smith just went up on stage and slapped Chris Rock. WTF?!

Pinkett Smith has alopecia, and shaved her head, as a result. Joking about someone’s physical appearance is almost never a good idea, and, when it’s linked to an underlying medical condition, it causes real pain. I don’t think Smith taking it badly is an issue for anyone. I think most people can empathize with a husband’s anger at his wife’s hurt. I didn’t expect that this would morph into a rallying cry not only of justification for Smith striking Rock, but that the act would be held up as an example of noble heroism in some circles. I didn’t expect that it would need to be said that escalating that specific situation to physical violence wasn’t anywhere…