The Punch Heard Around The World

An Open Letter To Will Smith

Dear Will,

Really, Will? Really?

Man, I get going hard for your family. I do. I once beat a bitch because she wouldn’t stop her bully brat from bothering my son. But dude!

The Oscars? Really?

Okay, Chris Rock made a joke. He’s a comedian. Kinda what he does. What exactly is your beef? Was it the GI Jane 2 thing?

Willie, honey, I love you, but come on. Jada has been open about her Alopecia for years. Yeah, it’s a sucky autoimmune disease. Yeah, it sucks for a woman to lose her hair.

I have a friend that has it. She’s lost her hair, her eyebrows and eyelashes, many times over. And it sucked ass every time. It made her question her beauty, her worth and her femininity. A woman’s hair, as the Bible says is her crowning glory. What are we if that’s gone, right?

I’ll tell you what we are. We’re strong, we’re resilient, we’re here. My friend found so much inspiration in Jada’s coming forward. In her selfless candour, she, and many others found strength.

I get wanting to beat some clown who disrespected your wife. I come from a long line of fighters. We handled disrespect the old fashioned way. I did too. But let’s think about this for a second.

Your wife is a proud, outspoken, independent woman. She can handle her own. You know it. I know it. Jada is one boss bitch. She’s been real about all of it. Real about Tupac, real about the kids, real about you and her, real about her Alopecia.

Dude, you think she can’t handle some jokes at the Oscars? Prince, Jada got this! She don’t need you showing out.

That said, I love you for defending your family. I love that you put it all on the line to defend the woman you love. I have a man that would do the same. And let’s be honest, if anyone in my house is gonna throw a punch, it’s gonna be me. I love and admire your commitment to your family. As the daughter of slaves and later Black men that didn’t take care of their families, I take my hat off to you.

But dude, Chris was cracking a joke. It’s his thing. He took your punch like a champ. I really don’t think he meant to hurt you or Jada. And let’s be honest, if Jada was that offended, girl woulda punched him out her damn self!

Sincerely,

A Strong, Black(ish) Woman In Canada