Summary

The author reflects on the Will Smith and Chris Rock incident, advocating for understanding and contextualizing the slap as a human reaction rather than violence, and suggests moving on from the controversy.

Abstract

The article titled "Will Smith and Chris Rock Are Only Human" discusses the public reaction to Will Smith slapping Chris Rock at the Oscars, emphasizing the imperfections of human behavior. The author, who personally relates to hair loss issues, argues that the situation could have been worse and points out the double standards in societal reactions to physical retaliation based on gender. The author also questions the labeling of Smith's slap as violence, contrasting it with more severe forms of violence that deserve public attention. The piece concludes by calling for forgiveness and a shift in focus towards more pressing issues of violence, while acknowledging the difficulty of perfectly appropriate behavior in complex social interactions.

Opinions

The author believes that no human is perfect and that the slap incident could have been more severe.
There is a perceived double standard in how society views physical retaliation by men versus women.
The author regrets not responding physically to a past personal offense, suggesting empathy for Will Smith's protective instinct.
Both Will Smith and Chris Rock are commended for not escalating the situation further.
The author suggests that Chris Rock should also apologize, as his joke was not without fault.
The article argues that labeling Will Smith's act as violence is imprecise and dangerously exaggerated, given the context and the non-injurious nature of the slap.
The author emphasizes the importance of acknowledging one's emotions and the natural human tendency to make mistakes.
The piece contrasts the media attention on the slap with more serious acts of violence that occur in private households and global conflicts, advocating for a reallocation of public concern.
The author encourages readers to subscribe to their content for further insights into their perspectives and personal experiences.

mess up, fess up, move on

Will Smith and Chris Rock Are Only Human

Let he who has not sinned shout the loudest

A slap. No one was hurt. image by Geoff Stearns, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Why do I have an opinion on a “Hollywood” scandal? I don’t watch TV anymore or follow pop culture but “know” Chris Rock from Saturday Night Live and Will Smith from movies. The hubbub caught my attention for two reasons.

First,

I have androgenetic alopecia. Plus I believe

no human being is perfect, and
the situation could’ve been much worse.

If an offended Jada Pinkett Smith had slapped Chris Rock, would she be hip deep in hot water? I think not. Slapping is an accepted — traditional — female response when a male goes too far. I still regret not slapping the “friend” who pulled my bathing suit top down in a public hot tub, decades ago.

Punching is more traditional for males, so Will Smith may’ve reined himself in to slap.

Our labile truths regarding appropriateness all play in the same sandbox. We can’t expect they’ll get along together 100% of the time.

It takes talent and nerve to think on your feet and be funny. It’s natural to feel protective of the one you love. And it’s no surprise to most that talking about another human’s looks is risky these days.

Both men demonstrated grace by not allowing the incident to escalate. Security didn’t escort Will Smith out — good call. Chris Rock didn’t press charges — yet, anyway — and I hope he doesn’t. Will Smith apologized.

Will Chris Rock exhibit some love and apologize too? “It’s just a joke” — said in self-defense to his upset, offended listener — was natural in the moment but doesn’t make his joke OK. Gaslighting, anyone?

“I’m sorry I offended you” logically and maturely follows “I didn’t mean it that way.” Will Smith’s apology ideally is followed by “let’s all move on” after Chris Rock accepts it.

And then we all should move on.

Second,

I’m a devotee of truly violent action movies where Our Hero puts Bad Guy down for a dirt nap. Sublimation? Meet Justice. Very satisfying. With that in mind, I believe baldly labeling Will Smith’s act as violence is dangerously imprecise. Per Merriam-Webster, some definitions of violence are:

1a: the use of physical force so as to injure, abuse, damage, or destroy b: an instance of violent treatment or procedure 2: injury by or as if by distortion, infringement, or profanation : OUTRAGE b: vehement feeling or expression : FERVOR; also: an instance of such action or feeling

After laughing reflexively, Will Smith clearly felt fervently outraged but limited his response to a slap. Then he managed to sit back down and, after blowing off remaining steam verbally, controlled himself. We’re not robots. We each have emotions. We shouldn’t tell others how to feel.

Who hasn’t done or said something then wished they could turn back time? It’s hard to imagine Will Smith or Chris Rock re-offending.

I will forgive but not forget a man’s slap of another man on TV. It was a mistake, not the collapse of his integrity.

In headlines yesterday and tomorrow, there’s violence in private households, men killing their own spouses or kids. And not just men. Police shootings. School shootings. Ukraine is fighting to stay independent. That’s actual violence needing public attention and intervention.

If only we could harness all this energy we’re spending on one man’s slap.

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