A Man Who Slaps

Will Smith, Jada Pinkett Smith, Chris Rock

 

 It was a night to celebrate--Hollywood was geared to party, and inaugurate a time of rare inclusion--more first-rate films about subjects not handled before, more diversity in casting, more openness, no masks, a spirit of optimism was in the air. The event was founded as a way to build business for the movies, back in the last century, at a time when the country was facing economic hardships and the motion picture industry itself needed a boost. Over the years, the Academy Awards ceremonies have done just that--made Hollywood happy about itself, and made moviegoers feel like going to the movies. Recent years the awards and the ceremony itself have been less successful at both goals.

But Sunday night started off happily. Comedians ribbed the actors; the actors, in their designer clothes, laughed gamely and awaited the announcement of their own moments to shine.

Until they didn't. Chris Rock, an affable insult comic of the very mild, tongue-in-cheek variety, saw two of his favorite targets in the audience--Will Smith and  his beautiful wife, Jada Pinkett Smith. Both movie stars and old acquaintances of his. Jada was sporting a new look--a shiny shaved head, which on her admittedly looked very good. "Jada?" Rock said, on the stage, on national and international television. "I look forward to GI Jane 2!" Jada and Will both chuckled slightly and awaited a change of subject. But Jada's smile faded fast and she rolled her eyes heavenward and her face went serious. Will was still smiling when he caught that slight shadow on his wife's face. 

Here's where accounts of the evening differ. Almost everybody--and don't forget the world was watching--saw Will Smith bound from his seat and stride down the stage to face Chris Rock. Rock saw it too, and thought Will was going to make a joke until he saw the fury in Smith's face. Suddenly Will Smith slapped Chris Rock with some force, and a befuddled Rock looked a little scared and totally confused.  He announced to the audience, "Will Smith just slapped the shit outta me!"

When he got back to his seat, Chris Rock said, "Dude, it was a GI JANE joke!" and Will Smith, now seated, yelled at the stage, "Leave my wife's name outcha fucking mouth! I spell it phonetically, because that's the way he pronounced it. Then, in case somebody might have missed it the first time, he yelled the same line again.

All this would suggest that Rock had said something equally profane about Jada Pinkett Smith. Or that she was a fragile flower reduced to tears at the mere suggestion that somebody had noticed she had a bald head. The fact that she had shaved her head as a condition called alopecia was causing her to lose hair was something she had given details about on a podcast she manages. Whether or not Chris Rock knew about this has not yet been addressed, but the fact that she carries the bald pate with grace and elegance cannot be denied by anyone, especially not a comedian looking for someone to lob softballs at. Will Smith was enraged far beyond the provocation, and people who don't like his wife suggest somehow she put him up  to the macho display to defend her honor. It cast a pall over the room and the heretofore happy audience went silent. Will Smith was sweating and weeping, and several high-potency friends like Denzel Washington and Bradley Cooper rushed to his side to try to help him calm down. Chris Rock maintained as much composure as he could muster and continued with his introduction to the next Oscar winner, but it must be said that after that moment the air had drained from the balloon of optimism and joy. 

Will Smith was asked to leave the building but refused. He wanted to get the Oscar he was sure would be his, and so he did. His acceptance speech was embarrassing. Here was a man in crisis and it was hard to sympathize as he talked about God's plan for him and his love for so many people. He was still crying. He apologized to the Academy but not to Chris Rock. It was a low point for this gifted actor and a devastating awards ceremony for everybody. 

If I could rewrite what happened after the slap, the scenario would be this: Will Smith is escorted off the premises, after whispering to Jada "Honey, if I win the Oscar, accept it for me and apologize to everybody.." Later, he is announced as the winner of Best Actor, and Jada takes the stage. She says, "I am accepting this for my husband, who is not here..." (Uncomfortable laughter in the audience.) "Before he left Will asked me to thank you all and everybody who made this moment possible...and apologize to the  Academy for the scene he caused at this prestigious event..." long applause from a relieved crowd. "And I want to apologize to Chris from myself and my husband for our inability to take a joke."  

If only.