Everyone in town is talking about Hollywood Star Will Smith slapping Comedian Chris Rock at the 94th Academy Awards following a joke about his wife Jada Pinkett Smith.
As seen in the award ceremony, after Will hit Chris, the entire auditorium went silent for a few seconds, and Will came back to his seat and shouted, “Keep my wife’s name out of your (expletive) mouth.”
Apparently, Will Smith took offense to the G.I. Jane joke because, in the 1997 movie, the lead, Jordan O’Neil underwent Navy Seal training, and she outlasts many of her male counterparts after taking part in the brutal Seal preparation. O’Neil even stripped herself of her femininity, shaves her head to become the “G.I. Jane”.
But Jada, on the other hand, deals with a very real condition called Alopecia Areata.
She has publicly acknowledged dealing with a condition that causes hair loss. Jada has talked about how she had to shave her head entirely after her hair started falling in clumps.
Alopecia, or alopecia areata, is an autoimmune disorder that causes excessive hair fall. There are different types of alopecia and it usually occurs in women aged 30-50. Some people lose hair in only a few areas, others lose a lot and for some, it gets better on its own.
Unfortunately, there is not a proper solution for this condition but doctors have suggested a few ways for hair regrowth. There are corticosteroids, which is an anti-inflammatory drugs used on affected areas for regrowth, and immunotherapy that targets bald spots with chemicals for hair growth.
As hair is a symbol of beauty and one’s identity, the condition seriously affects a person’s self-worth and mental health.
Despite that, Will, while accepting his Oscar apologized for his action and requested the Academy to pardon him and let him be allowed in all the coming Oscars.
Will Smith gave a moving speech and apology at the #Oscars #Oscar #Oscars2022 pic.twitter.com/KbSSvhgGUG
— Tony Milland, MT-BC (@TonyMilland) March 28, 2022
Besides this, Will also issued a public apology to Chris Rock sharing a long note on Instagram.
“Violence in all of its forms is poisonous and destructive. My behavior at last night’s Academy Awards was unacceptable and inexcusable. Jokes at my expense are a part of the job, but a joke about Jada’s medical condition was too much for me to bear and I reacted emotionally,” he wrote in the caption.
Find the entire post below.
Having known all the facts, and incidents, can we blame Will entirely for his action? He actually had all the right to stand for his woman. Only, resorting to physical assault was a bit too far stretched.
This brings to light another huge issue which is – how hosts and comedians are crossing the line these days in the name of humor.
Chris Rock’s humor was indeed insensitive. Of course, there has been a barrage of tweets and reactions from Comedians and the entire film fraternity on the issue where a lot many people are condemning Will, which is partly correct, but only up to the part where he slapped. His objection, rage, and taking offense are actually a sign of being a loving and passionate husband and someone who respects women deeply.
It isn’t just Chris Rock. He is but a drop in the ocean. Mockery and humiliation are now a part of the trend of comedy these days. The jokes often turn out to be downright personal attacks, affecting the subject’s mental health and self-esteem, and also public image.
This is also seen in India with the mainstream comedians and hosts as our entertainment industry by and large follows the west.
The jokes are not limited to just this but also sexual and gender-biased. Women are often the center and subject of it.
Since there is no censorship on stand-up or live shows and the actions can only be taken after the show is done, the so-called hosts or professionals up the stage take the liberty of doing things as per their own will.
We as a race have deteriorated as even the taste of the public leads to such portrayals. Gone are those days, when we had Charlie Chaplin who made her laugh and cry and feel deep within our guts.
Yet, the least any performer out there can do is respect a living and breathing person who has got a heart and a life to lead.