I watched the Oscars ceremony live, and at first I thought the incident was a gag. I didn’t realize something was amiss until the broadcast feed momentarily paused at Chris Rock’s shocked face. Then followed the muted shouting between him and Will Smith. In real time it looked to me like Rock was able to dodge Smith’s slap attempt. But I guess upon further replay (thank you, uncensored international feeds), indeed Will Smith slapped a person on live national television. In 4K.
The fact people are still chatting about the slap a few days later is a testament to how utterly boring and uninteresting the Academy Awards was otherwise. But hey the Academy is looking to attract a newer and younger audience, so what better way than some violence that can fit within the confines of a TikTok video? My twitter feed absolutely lit up after the incident. Folks who weren’t even tuned into the show have turned on their TVs.
Because Will Smith was up for the best actor award, so all eyes were on what he would say on stage - post incident with Chris Rock - if he’d won. Well, he did win, and his speech was an incoherent mess. Something about wanting to protect his people, and being sorry to everybody but Chris Rock itself. Nevertheless, we all tuned in didn’t we. ABC can’t be too mad about it: it’s all about that eyeball count and those advertising dollars.
I think Smith is absolutely wrong for slapping Rock on stage. Sure, the joke Rock made about Jada - Smith’s wife - was in poor taste, but Chris Rock is a comedian - he’s being paid to be there to tell jokes. Audience members can’t be assaulting the comic for jokes they don’t like. Insults thrown at you and your significant other is probably one the prices people have to pay for being famous.
Now the whole thing could also just be one big ruse. Will Smith and Chris Rock doing a bit for the Oscars for the ratings and buzz. Both are actors, after all! However, the optics of a black man hitting another black man on live national TV is probably not so great. That said, I wouldn’t be surprised some years down the line both Smith and Rock comes out with the truth that it was a hoax.
Understood.