General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsRight is right and wrong ain't nowhere...Will Smith should be charged
and banned from the Academy forthwith.
Fuck that guy.
Evergreen Emerald
(13,069 posts)I cannot believe he was not escorted out of the building after that Karen display.
delisen
(6,042 posts)Walleye
(31,015 posts)delisen
(6,042 posts)Walleye
(31,015 posts)I wouldnt be surprised if Smith had been a little alcohol impaired
samnsara
(17,622 posts)..he had to ruin it for everyone. He should be charged and i will refuse to watch that movie.
delisen
(6,042 posts)CincyDem
(6,353 posts)Mosby
(16,299 posts)There were hundreds of witnesses, any of whom could testify, but they don't like to prosecute when the victim isn't cooperating. There is one area of law where this is different - domestic violence. A lot of state legislators have passed laws requiring prosecution, so charges are filed even when the victim isn't cooperating or planning to show up in court.
So it's not really up to the victim whether charges are filed or not.
Srkdqltr
(6,271 posts)Baltimike
(4,143 posts)Srkdqltr
(6,271 posts)yardwork
(61,598 posts)Baltimike
(4,143 posts)Telling a joke about hair loss isn't "verbal violence" either
Srkdqltr
(6,271 posts)Evergreen Emerald
(13,069 posts)Seriously, the violence in our society is becoming more and more common place. And for some, more and more acceptable.
Srkdqltr
(6,271 posts)Maybe Smith was joking? Rock can dish it out but can't take it?
Baltimike
(4,143 posts)Verbal violence, in this case, is straight up bullshit.
Orrex
(63,203 posts)Would Smith have shared his particular physical "humor" with her as well?
Would he be defended?
Srkdqltr
(6,271 posts)Chautauquas
(4,440 posts)is a good way to build a criminal record
Your refusal to answer tells me that you know the answer.
treestar
(82,383 posts)It has nothing to do with someone enjoying discomfort.
It's a thing a kid says to taunt someone who has said something that is supposed to be insulting.
Sunsky
(1,737 posts)Furthermore, do we even know if Chris knew of Jada's condition and was intentionally making fun of her? How about Jada's opinion of the matter, do we know that?
LiberatedUSA
(1,666 posts)Good fucking grief.
I hope you dont go walking around assaulting people for their words in a society that can carry concealed guns. That is a really dangerous view to have; the idea one can attack another for their words.
Emile
(22,695 posts)USALiberal
(10,877 posts)Johnny2X2X
(19,051 posts)And let's be honest here, that was a crummy joke to tell, it was in poor taste, but it wasn't way over any line, there's a thousand things Chris Rock could have said that would be more offensive.
And everyone today seems to be, "Oh, that Will Smith, he's got a family he's standing up for..." What about Chris Rock and his family? He's got a wife and kids at home that just saw him get assaulted in front of 500 million people on TV.
Baltimike
(4,143 posts)Blues Heron
(5,931 posts)Didn't everybody witness the assault?
33taw
(2,439 posts)Blues Heron
(5,931 posts)mopinko
(70,086 posts)some states have passed laws allowing cops who see a domestic attack file the charges.
but that's why a lot of abusers dont go to jail. their victims wont file charges.
Blues Heron
(5,931 posts)WhiskeyGrinder
(22,327 posts)Goonch
(3,607 posts)NightWatcher
(39,343 posts)If Rock was wrong, he'd have been the one to apologize.
Baltimike
(4,143 posts)eShirl
(18,490 posts)Presumably by then he would have calmed down enough not to assault anyone.
Srkdqltr
(6,271 posts)Do any of you realize how hated you must be when you make fun of others? Watch your backs.
LisaL
(44,973 posts)So Will Smith won't be charged. Even though it's on tape in front of many witnesses.
crim son
(27,464 posts)I was prepared to give Smith a pass. Now that I've seen what happened, nope.
madville
(7,408 posts)Do they still prosecute misdemeanors in California?
sky_masterson
(416 posts)Is something abusers often say. That wasn't love making him do crazy things it was anger.
The fact Smith wasn't punished in any way for it is just a pass for a shitty reaction.
sky_masterson
(416 posts)And Smith smacked her. Would that be ok?
Srkdqltr
(6,271 posts)sky_masterson
(416 posts)He was wrong.
Johnny2X2X
(19,051 posts)The way he justified it afterwards was the way a spoiled child would act.
What if in response to being assaulted live on television, Chris Rock had picked up a mic stand and split Will Smith's skull with it? Would people be saying, "Well, the things you do for love..."
tavernier
(12,381 posts)They have been given a certain immunity, despite some unfunny and sometimes disgusting jokes. It would have been more insulting to Rock for Will and Jada to just walk out until his dumb jokes were over.
SYFROYH
(34,169 posts)unblock
(52,200 posts)Whether banned, disqualified, or whatever; enough academy members will refuse to vote for him that he'll never win again.
SYFROYH
(34,169 posts)Lunabell
(6,078 posts)And he declined. Move on.
Mad_Machine76
(24,407 posts)but Will was wrong to respond with violence like that and should face consequences.
Emile
(22,695 posts)The Jungle 1
(4,552 posts)But nothing ever happens!
I do not support this action however it was an open hand. In hockey it is a punch which could do real damage.
global1
(25,242 posts)that one may be the butt of a joke.
You would think that one would have developed a thick skin being a celebrity and know that such jokes are all in the fun of the moment.
Most unfortunate.
I wonder what Don Rickles is thinking about this incident as he looks down and watched this play out.
hamsterjill
(15,220 posts)I think the fact that Chris Rock has chosen not to press charges is his decision, and makes him the bigger man here.
This needs to go away. The incident last night detracted from all of the other winners and honorees. To continue a court case would only continue the blight on Hollywood.
Chris and Will need to take up the offer to settle this like family and be done with it.
Baltimike
(4,143 posts)Smith should be sanctioned in some way.
Assaulting someone on live national tv is not okay.
luv2fly
(2,475 posts)Never ever acceptable. Doesn't matter who it is or what the issue is. Doesn't matter who the target is or who is making fun of someone, it is never okay.
Goes for all of us too. I cringe a little every time I read something about how Sinema dresses, or Ted Cruz's beard, etc etc etc. We can all be better.
Baltimike
(4,143 posts)Will Smith knew he wouldn't get in trouble for this.
Shows two Americas...one for the rich and privileged and another for the rest of us.
luv2fly
(2,475 posts)Violence is not an answer but I understand it.
And two Americas in this case? Please, they are both stars.
Baltimike
(4,143 posts)Your understanding violence does not excuse it.
And, yes, privilege. Will Smith knew damn right well he would have a seat instead of being escorted out of there. His victim does not make a difference in that regard.
luv2fly
(2,475 posts)Got it.
SYFROYH
(34,169 posts)Almost every other comic would have slowly said, "Jaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa-Daaaaaaaaaaaaaa" after Smith said to keep her name out of his effing mouth.
luv2fly
(2,475 posts)And no one should make fun of people. If you do, you might deserve what happens.
Baltimike
(4,143 posts)words = insult
violence = assault
These ain't the same
Midnight Writer
(21,751 posts)fishwax
(29,149 posts)I don't think every digression requires the use of force, whether Smith using force against Rock or the state using its force against Smith. Rock doesn't want to press charges, apparently, so the de-escalation seems appropriate here.
Xoan
(25,319 posts)bigtree
(85,988 posts)...little spats break out at work sometimes between heated up folks, men and women, and most times it takes a little cooling off and a round of apologies and warnings to settle an insult and a slap.
You give allowances for first time offenses in which no one was in any great harm.
Baltimike
(4,143 posts)Rock not pressing charges makes me think this thing was staged after all
bigtree
(85,988 posts)...might be prosecutable, and some grandstanding attorney general might pursue it, or Chris Rock.
But most judges would look at the circumstances and take the provocation into account, leaving Smith with a slap (ironically) on the wrist.
The hysterical calls for his arrest are absurd. It was a tiff between acquaintances in an industry event which was basically a workplace. Valued workers engaging in a tiff and a slap don't normally get the cops called on them. They get a reprimand, usually verbal, and are sent back to work (if there's any reason at all about them, and there's no further threat of an argument), a suspension, at best, if the employer values them.
That's what I'd do in that situation, not jump to charges. That's what most people would do, imo, in that position.
DemocratSinceBirth
(99,710 posts)Chris shouldn't have insulted his wife and Will shouldn't have slapped him but the calls for Will's arrest and prosecution are over the top. What do you think the response of the police would be to a gentleman who calls the police and says he was at a party and insulted a man's wife and the man slapped him and there were no injuries involved?
Jedi Guy
(3,185 posts)I feel like if I got "heated up" and slapped one of my coworkers (male or female) I'd be out of a job in the best-case scenario and out of a job and charged with assault in the worst-case scenario. Most of us learn not to put hands on other people when we're children. Either Mr. Smith never learned that lesson or (more likely) he knew that his celebrity would almost certainly shield him from any serious consequences for his decision to engage in physical violence.
It appears he was correct in that assessment.
bigtree
(85,988 posts)...and this was little more than an embarrassingly public tiffle.
I wouldn't try and have people of that caliber fired, arrested, or any of the other punitive nonsense. I'd work to resolve it with a warning or reprimand, and I've managed several dozen men and women in my work experience.
No need to criminalize a taunt and a slap, and I'd be just as inclined to reprimand the instigator, as I would be the person they instigated.
Jedi Guy
(3,185 posts)Anywhere I've ever worked that saw an incident in which one employee put hands on another, regardless of provocation or who brings in how much money, the employee who threw hands got fired. There's too much liability involved in such a situation for a normal employer to look the other way, since the assaulted employee could make a strong case for a hostile work environment afterward.
The only reason that does not hold true here is because Hollywood is not, in any way, shape, or form, a normal work environment.
bigtree
(85,988 posts)...you protect workers as valuable as those two from even the consequences of their own actions, at least initially, especially if there's no actual complaint from the person supposed to be the victim.
I understand that many employers might act to keep their work environment safe, but it's ludicrous to apply that to this industry event. They'll protect their assets, both of them, as well they should.
Jedi Guy
(3,185 posts)Different expectations and standards of behavior in different industries, I suppose. I work in HVAC now, so I wouldn't be all that surprised if two of our technicians slugged it out on Monday, got suspended for the rest of the week, and were back to work the next Monday but kept separated from one another. It's much more blue-collar than I'm used to, without wishing to sound snobby.
LexVegas
(6,059 posts)Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin
(107,922 posts)Didn't look like much of a slap to me but I wasn't on the receiving end of it.
iemanja
(53,031 posts)but the Academy has opened a formal review.
https://www.usatoday.com/story/entertainment/celebrities/2022/03/28/oscars-chris-rock-will-smith-police/7189129001/
bigtree
(85,988 posts)"Were not going to take that Oscar from him, Goldberg said on "The View." "There will be consequences Im sure, but I dont think thats what theyre going to do, particularly because Chris said, Listen, Im not pressing any charges.'