As a White Man With Opinions, I figured I should weigh in on The Slap. My suspicion is that Will Smith was possessed by Thalia, Muse of Comedy, and used as an instrument of vengeance against Chris Rock for his unfunny, unoriginal, low-effort 'joke'. Sure, Will Smith exhibited toxic behavior, but I am of the opinion that Chris Rock's punch-down crack at a woman with an autoimmune condition was more toxic. Rock's greater sin was making a lazy reference to a movie that was released in 1997. For the record, I think Will Smith's greater sin was not giving Rock a chance to defend himself. As a guy who actually likes to fight, cheap-shotting someone is morally repugnant in a one-on-one altercation... if you're going to engage in toxic masculinity, at least be a man about it.
Here's where I note that I am more of a fan of Chris Rock's oeuvre than that of Will Smith. Will Smith specialized in amiable, breezy comedy in his music and television careers, then transformed into a wisecracking action movie hero. Chris Rock's comedy was rooted in Pain and Truth:
Maybe that slap was really a wake-up call: "Get your act together and go back to real Comedy, not just shock jock bullying."
UPDATE: Watching that clip after not seeing it for a while, I have to note that Rock's humor was extremely ableist. Maybe Will Smith should have slapped him decades ago.
What did Chris Rock think was going to happen when Will Smith got up and stalked toward him on the stage? I would have been ready for violence. Credit to Rock though for taking the slap the way he did. My eyes started to water just watching from watching it.
ReplyDeleteAnyway, I enjoy your blog. Pax vobiscum.
Thanks for the opinions. It is not like we go around saying, Hey did you Watch the Oscars last night?
ReplyDeleteThanks for the movies, Hollywood. We appreciate them.
Those rich celebrities can slap themselves silly, for all i care. We have problems that are more important than that.