Thank you for the question on Will Smith and the Oscar award.
If Will Smith’s wife went up to the stage and slap Chris Rock, would the media applaud or be appalled at her action? I believe that most women in general would applaud her action.
Making a “joke” about someone’s wife is inappropriate. Chris Rock should be censored, not Will Smith. Chris is the initiator of the insult. In my opinion, he was defending his wife’s honor. For him to do nothing, would paramount that he doesn’t respect or cherish his wife.
Should Will responded differently? He could have spoken to him after the Oscars or if he were to win the Oscar, he would have rebuff Chris for insulting or belittling his wife. I don’t necessarily place the full blame on Will. Chris has to accept some blame for causing Will’s reaction. Will wouldn’t have slapped him if Chris didn’t offend his wife.
I believe that Will Smith should be able to keep his Oscar. The award is for his performance before the Oscar Award incident. It would be unjust to rescind his award and to give it to another person. The votes were already in and to change the votes would be violating the voters’ choice.
The consequences of Will Smith’s action is an overkilled. It is almost liken to a death sentence for an actor since his livelihood depends on him being able to be hired by film companies. It’s more of a reaction rather than a response. He has already made a public apology and resigned from the Academy. He took responsibility for his action. There was no need to pile it on unless Chris asked for a harsher penalty.
I believe Will Smith is a rare man who stood up for his wife. No one has the right to insult another person’s wife or husband. The “joke” can’t be at the expense of another person’s emotional well-being. Would it be a joke if she hurt herself, feeling public humiliation! Is that what we call bullying? They got it wrong.
-Kingston