It’s been almost a year since Will Smith walked up the stage at the 94th Oscar Awards and slapped Comedian Chris Rock in the face in response to a joke that Rock made about Smith’s wife Jada Pinkett-Smith, which was actually a compliment.
After subjecting Rock
to violence, Smith returned to his seat where he began bellowing obscenities at
an understandably shaken Rock.
It was a disgraceful
display by Smith and a much worse display by the luminaries of Hollywood, who
cannot stop telling others how to lead their lives.
The 'stars' remained,
looking befuddled and unsure how to react. Perhaps they feared being called
racist if they immediately condemned Smith.
Perhaps they felt
that confronting Smith who is rich, powerful, and connected would hurt their
careers. Hollywood had also remained silent over Weintein's
predatory behavior when he was a powerful presence in Hollywood
Perhaps they are so
accustomed to following diktats about the latest
edition of groupthink or acting in self-interest that they have
forgotten how to be human.
Smith should have
been forced to leave by the security team, but instead, many of Smith’s
colleagues in the auditorium surrounded him and appeared to console him. Yes,
they were consoling the perpetrator.
Smith ended up
winning the Oscar for Best Actor
During his acceptance
speech, Smith tried to portray himself as a victim.
Smith claimed that he
had unknowingly emulated the title character of King Richard(2021) for
which he won the award, by being a fierce defender of his family. He used
everyone from his family to his young costars as crutches to peddle his
narrative. He concluded by claiming ‘love will make you do crazy
things’ and proceed to apologize to everyone but the real victim Chris
Rock.
Smith should have been
stripped from his Oscar and banned from the Academy and all future ceremonies.
He should have faced consequences from the law for his violence. But nothing of
the kind happened.
The academy issued a
perfunctory condemnation of violence without actually naming him
https://twitter.com/TheAcademy/status/1508310547564953606
Since then few in
Hollywood have condemned Smith.
This was damaging for
Rock for no fault of his.
He was a target of violence that was broadcasted all over the
world. Millions saw him being slapped, much more than those who saw him being
funny on stage. Rock will probably be remembered by many as the ‘gent who was
struck by Will Smith’. The slap has become an instant meme, which once again
ensures that nobody forgets about it.
Apart from physically
hurting Rock, Smith had attempted to humiliate Rock.
Considering the
current climate where victimhood sells more than achievement, Rock could have
used his situation to his advantage.
He could have appeared
on every available forum and claimed to have been irrevocably traumatized. He
could have shed tears and invoked his children. He could have written a book
about the incident or aligned himself with groups that advocate against
violence. He could have made it about race. He could have been sanctimonious,
whiney, and preachy.
There were myriad
ways for Rock to use the incident to gain pecuniarily.
But that didn't
happen.
Rock was praised for
maintaining his composure immediately after the incident. He remained dignified
in his silence for almost a year and continued doing what he does best being
funny in his act.
It is said that when
the right words are expressed at the right time and in the right place, it
works like magic.
Chris Rock’s moment
of magic was during Netflix’s first live stand-up special called
"Selective Outrage", which was also his first major special since the
incident occurred.
It is said that angst
that has fermented over time makes great comedy. That is exactly what happened
at Rock’s comedy special that streamed a few days back.
Rock began by saying
he was " going to try to do the show without offending anyone," but
in a nod to Will Smith added, "because you never know who might get
triggered."
In the next hour,
Rock went on to tackle a number of different topics such as Meghan and Harry
Markle, addiction, abortion, racism, and wokery.
Rock also delivered
what people were waiting for
He hilariously and
occasionally furiously — reflected on the assault and roasted Smith.
It was like Rock undergoing personal catharsis occurring on stage.
Rock reminded his audience how Will and Jada publicly shared that she cheated on him with one of
their son’s friends. Rock enumerated all those who ridiculed Smith for washing his dirty linen in public,
from the hosts of “The View” to well-known rappers.
Rock acknowledged
that Smith has ‘made some great movies’ and added that he ‘rooted for Will
Smith’ all his life. He then quipped that “he was rooting for the slave master
who beats Smith's character in his latest movie "Emancipation."
Expect some to be
'outraged' over this comment.
Rock joked that
those who claim, ‘words hurt,’ has never been punched in the face.”
In the concluding
moments of the special, he said “You all know what happened to me, getting
smacked … and people are like, ‘Did it hurt?’ It still hurts! I got
‘Summertime’ ringing in my ear!” ( “Summertime” is
the1991 hit track that featured Smith)
In a nod to the
show's title, Rock opined that Smith practiced "selective outrage"
and that the slap had more to do with Smith and his wife, Jada's, relationship
struggles, than his joke.
But, the comedian
made it amply clear that he isn’t the victim quipping - “You’ll
never see me on Oprah or Gayle crying”
Social media lit up
with reactions to the event.
Chris Rock showed
everyone how to deal with setbacks.
You do not react with
your guts when you are upset and you don’t wallow in self-pity or claim
victimhood after that.
You wait for the right moment then strike back and you do it with
humor.
What about those who
claim that Rock is profiting via his Netflix special and hence he is no
different than those who use victimhood for profitable gains?
If Rock suddenly
became an activist to profit from his assault, that would merit ridicule.
But instead, he
continued to do what he always does, finding humor in his life experiences,
only this time his experience was viewed by millions globally.
Stand-up comedians
are known to base their acts on their life experiences, particularly moments of
personal embarrassment and humiliation.
Rock has frequently reflected on his life and his family. His
latest special is no different.
Rock’s reflections on
his assault may be the focus of his show but it is just one of the topics he
deals with in his special.
If Rock happens to reap higher profits than usual from this
venture because of the unwanted attention after the assault, well he deserves
it. It may serve as some small form of compensation.
Rock deserves to be
celebrated for showing everyone how to deal with setbacks with grace.
Chris Rock commendably chose to be identified as a comedian rather than profit from victimhood.
Also appears on American Thinker
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