This is off topic for the blog but I have to vent.
Everyone by now has seen Will Smith slap Chris Rock after he made an inappropriate joke towards Will’s wife, Jada Pinkett Smith. For approximately 3 years she has been sharing her battle with alopecia. For a woman, at least speaking for myself and other women I know, no matter how beautiful you are, losing your hair has to take a blow to your self confidence. In a YouTube video she states the following:
“Now at this point, I can only laugh… y’all know I’ve been struggling with alopecia. Just all of a sudden, one day…So, it just showed up like that. Now, this is going to be a little bit more difficult for me to hide. So, I thought I’d just share it so y’all not asking any questions,” (see video below)
I will be the first to say I do think people are too sensitive today. Everything offends someone, no one can look at a situation and laugh about it. Speaking your mind with a differing opinion than others, such as not believing a person can be ‘non-binary’; they are either male or female; believing that should not be a cause for a person to be targeted, they should not be called out as hateful. Having a differing opinion doesn’t…or shouldn’t be cause for outrage. Agree to disagree, simple as that.
With comments and jokes alike, there is appropriate ones and rude ones, the person saying them knows if it is a sensitive topic when targeting one person, and knowing that is a trigger to a personal battle for that person, and still you make your ‘joke’- that is uncalled for.
I am not offended; I am angry. Angry that Will now faces the negative idiots who will give him hell for something he shouldn’t be given hell for.
His wife was disrespected. Chris Rock knew that. And in a humane, civilized world people understand there are lines that shouldn’t be crossed because it is hurtful and rude, not to mention, disrespectful.
Like with free speech, there are limits; speaking hate and inciting violence is wrong. And with ‘jokes’ there is also a limit to how far it should or shouldn’t be taken. Jada is very brave to embrace this as she has and take the initiative to shave her head before the illness took it from her.
However, to be singled out at a show that has millions of viewers, and have a ‘joke’ made about something that is personal and something you openly struggle with, that is a line no one should cross. That is different than a joke; most people don’t want their struggles mocked especially as they come to terms and battle with them. I also want to note that a tactic abusers tend to use is the say something hurtful to the other person, then claim it was “just a joke.”
We aren’t talking about him making a joke about numerous people, instead one person. One person targeted out who had a real man with her who understands there are limits. A joke isn’t funny when it comes at the expense of a person who is struggling being singled out. This is where the line is, in my opinion. It rests on whether or not this is a statement that singles out one person who will obviously feel uncomfortable or hurt by the ‘joke’.
Because I am pissed and on Will Smith’s side, I’ve received messages and mail from idiots telling me it was “just a fucking joke” and blah blah. So let me clarify.
I loathe how sensitive society is today. But I also loathe how ruthless it is. I am against ‘cancel culture’ and yes, I believe today people are offended far too easy. But that doesn’t mean disrespect is okay and does not happen, it clearly is not okay and it clearly does indeed happen.
All that to say, Chris Rock’s ‘joke’ was inappropriate at best. Will Smith should have received an additional Oscar for being the kind of man we need more of.
Chris deserved what he got. I hope that the people will stand behind Will Smith, who did what a real man would do if someone spoke disrespectful towards their wife or family.
And instead of focusing on negativity, the above is the acceptance speech from Will Smith.
Research and Writings on a Growing Crisis 