Summary

The article discusses the controversy surrounding Jay Z and Beyonce's decision to cross a picket line of Chateau Marmont workers to attend an Oscar party, contrasting this action with their public image as philanthropists and advocates for social justice.

Abstract

The article titled "The Oscars Weren’t Just About Will Smith" on the undefined website highlights the actions of Jay Z and Beyonce during the 2022 Oscars night. Despite their reputation for charitable work and advocacy, the couple faced criticism for crossing a picket line of hotel workers who were protesting unfair dismissal and working conditions at the Chateau Marmont. The workers, who were predominantly people of color, had been fighting for their rights since the start of the pandemic, with no support from the hotel's wealthy owner. The article contrasts the couple's philanthropic endeavors, such as the Shawn Carter Foundation, with their decision to ignore the plight of the disadvantaged workers, suggesting a disconnect between their public persona and private actions. It also criticizes other celebrities, including Kim Kardashian and Emily Ratajkowski, who attended the party, for their lack of solidarity with the workers. The author argues that true activism requires consistency and a willingness to stand with those in need, even when it's inconvenient, and calls for a reevaluation of the support given to celebrities who may not align their actions with their stated values.

Opinions

The author believes that Jay Z and Beyonce's decision to cross the picket line was a significant lapse in their commitment to social justice and contradicted their philanthropic image.
It is suggested that the couple's actions were particularly harmful because they disregarded the needs of disadvantaged people of color, who are the same demographic they claim to support through their charity work.
The article implies that the celebrities' activism may be performative and self-serving, as they seem to prioritize their social status and relationships with other wealthy individuals over standing with workers in need.
There is a sentiment that the rich and famous, including Jay Z, Beyonce, and their guests, are out of touch with the struggles of ordinary people and do not genuinely care about the less fortunate unless it benefits their public image.
The author expresses frustration with "false activism" and the culture of celebrity worship that overlooks the inconsistencies between celebrities' words and actions.
The piece calls for a class reckoning within the struggle for Black humanity, emphasizing that wealth and class can create a divide even within racial communities.
The author encourages readers to critically assess the celebrities they support and to consider shifting their focus away from famous figures who do not consistently act in alignment with their purported values.

The Oscars Weren’t Just About Will Smith

Jay z and Beyonce walked the red carpet across a picket line

“Jay Z Beyonce” by sashimomura is marked with CC BY 2.0.

It’s always good to have people in your corner if you’re fortunate. The comedian Monique recently received a long overdue apology from director Lee Daniels. Turns out a friend of Monique’s was praising her up all over the place and finally in 2022, thirteen years after starring and winning an Oscar for her role in Precious, Monique is allowed to work again.

Check out Kennardo James' Why You Need a Friend Like 50 Cent in Your Corner and you’ll see what Fifty did to help his friend. How he spoke up in spite of the power trio of Daniels, Tyler Perry, and Oprah Winfrey. It’s nice to see a celebrity actually do something for someone else without broadcasting it to the world first in an effort to gain a brighter shine for themself.

Will Smith might have lashed out on Oscar night 2022 but Jay Z and Beyonce’s behaviour was way more serious and harmed more people than Smith’s slap.

The world loves Beyonce and Jay Z. The Queen is lauded for her charity work that seeks to make society a better place. Jay Z’s organization, Shawn Carter Foundation provides scholarship opportunities for young people. For both of them, their social giving seemed genuine and authentic.

Essence Magazine spoke to Beyonce in 2013

“I wanted to team up with an organization that puts people first and works every day to help them improve and re-establish their lives.” She also had her Beyhive donate items to help “disadvantaged people search for jobs.”

It makes it all the more distasteful that on the night of the Oscars, and the slap heard ‘round the world, Jay Z and Beyonce would then cross a picket line of workers outside Chateau Marmont to attend Jay Z’s lavish post-Oscar party.

The picket line is filled with employees from the hotel who were summarily dismissed at the start of the pandemic with no warning and no severance and without health insurance. The workers had made claims of egregious working conditions, sexual assault, and a harsh work environment. These workers are disadvantaged, have no power, and have lost their livelihoods at the whim of the owner of the just-shy-of-a-billion dollar owner, Andre Balazs.

Since 2021 the local union has had the Chateau Marmont under a boycott in an attempt to win some concessions for the staff to no avail. These are the type of people Jay Z and Beyonce help with their activism and charitable labours, right? Unfortunately, no.

Jay Z and Beyonce along with their guests, Kim Kardashian, Emily Ratajkowski, Zoe Kravitz, and more crossed that picket line to attend the Carter’s Oscar party.

There was barely a whisper that these wannabe activists blatantly disregarded the needs of disadvantaged people of Brown and Black colour, so they could hang out and drink with their rich friends.

The union desperately tried to reach Jay Z publicly begging him not to host his post-Oscar bash at the Chateau to no avail. It’s possible they didn’t hear the message. It’s also in the realm of possibility that they heard and disregarded it. Whatever the truth is, it’s indisputable that Jay Z, Beyonce, and their guests crossed a clearly active picket line to enter the Chateau and greet their guests.

This is not supporting those who’ve lost their jobs and are picketing to be treated fairly. It goes against the power couple’s stated charitable aims to help those “less fortunate.” And it clearly draws a line of demarcation that screams they are in a different class (of course) than those workers who lost everything at the hands of their callous employer.

If the Carters were truly concerned for those less fortunate, they never would have reserved the Chateau, nor crossed the picket line.

They could have made the easy choice to support those workers by not reserving the hotel. That would have shown respect for the workers, their needs, and for the Carters' stated aim to help people. Instead, they gave the workers the middle finger (figuratively speaking) and walked the red carpet into a hotel under dispute.

It’s deplorable.

When these celebrities say the right thing about helping the poor, it does seem like there’s momentum to move that needle of change. Then they behave as all the rich have before them — dismissive of the needs of the poor — until it suits them to look like they’re doing good.

What’s the point of studying to be a lawyer, claiming you want to help people Ms. Kardashian when you could have easily done a world of good by just not crossing that picket line. By showing solidarity with the poor.

But it was more important to be seen with your rich buddies Ms. K. I begin to suspect that a degree is to boost your image and ego. Anyone helped may just be incidental.

We’re all here fighting for democracy, crying for change and in a short walk across a red carpet, the leading Black entertainment couple walked over the lives of the very people they claim they’re interested in helping.

I’m tired of false activism. Tired of a class of rich people who don’t care about anyone besides themselves. I ask you, why do we give a damn about the rich?

Why do we support Beyonce and Jay Z, and all their guests when they clearly do not support us?

Black lives matter to me. Suffering, pain, and poverty matter to me. But rich people who want to brag that they’ve bought the world’s most expensive car can do without a drop of support from me.

No matter how much change we try to create it will be held back if we don’t do as Marley K. has stated repeatedly — leave celebrities alone. Because Black or white, at a certain income level, Beyonce, Jay Z, Will Smith, Chris Rock, Zoe Kravitz, Jannelle Monae, and many other rich Blacks are in a different class from many of us. And they don’t see us unless it suits them.

The struggle for Black humanity must include a class reckoning as well as a racial one.

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