I don't think he did anything wrong. Nothing should be off limits in comedy. If I was a comedian, I'd tell much more offensive jokes. But if I told a rape joke, and a rape victim told me they were offended, I'd apologise. Not because I did anything wrong, just as a basic courtesy.
shareIf she hadn't apparently cajoled her husband to slap him on stage, I'd be more inclined to agree with you.
I didn't care for Chris's jokes at Jada's expense, but as soon as he was physically assaulted and left traumatised by what could have been a humiliating slap, it negated the original offence IMHO.
Imagine if a wife made fun of her husband and called him a 'small dick'. It wouldn't be very nice, would it? She'd be an asshole for doing it. Now, imagine he then proceeded to punch her in the face, as 'revenge'. After that, he's no longer the one who deserves an apology (in fact, he deserves to be in prison). The disproportionate response far outweighs the original offence.
"physically assaulted and left traumatized" Your giving will smith WAY too much credit LMFAO 🤣 Chris grew up in the hood, he may be small but he is no bitch ass n***a, unlike smith. he barley reacted to that slap. Chris Rock acted as manly and badass as possible by not getting fazed to the SLIGHTEST! Rock walked away as the winner of that fight. He got hit and pretty much just "What Would Jesus Do" the whole situation by keeping his hands being his back the whole time and reacting as if nothing happened, simply saying a confused "whaaaat?!?" Respect to Chris Rock 🪨 smith is a bitch who lost all my respect, first he was exposed as a cuck, now he is exposed as a weak fighter that cant even win a fight with a surprise cheap shot. fuck will...
shareWell, I certainly agree with you about Rock (I'm not going to comment on Will and Jada, other than to say I think you're somewhat harsh). Rock maintained his composure and reacted with dignity, which makes it all the more frustrating that so many people are still attacking him, and saying the slap was 'justified'.
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To my mind, apologising when you don't mean it isn't courteous, it's disingenuous. I wish people would stop doing that, particularly when it leads to the notorious 'non-apology' apology of 'I'm sorry if you were offended', 'I'm sorry that you feel that way', &c.
If I was a comedian, I'd tell much more offensive jokes. But if I told a rape joke, and a rape victim told me they were offended, I'd apologise
Agreed.
We all make mistakes, and we all do things that merit an apology, but far better to avoid doing the offending act in the first place than constantly making the same 'mistake' over and over again, and then apologising afterwards. More people should either stand by their initial actions, or, as you say, have thought more carefully beforehand.
More people should either stand by their initial actions, or, as you say, have thought more carefully beforehand.
You're right. Preferably both. But what I mean is 'if you can't do the time, don't do the crime.' In other words, either do the offending act and stand by your actions, or don't do it at all, rather than offer a mealy-mouthed apology after the fact, especially if you're making the same 'mistake' all the time (which suggests that the apology was not sincere).
That said, I appreciate your anecdote, particular the good faith shown by both the comedian and the attendant audience.
Yeah. I broadly agree with that. Above all, save me from the insincere apology. Either stand by it and take your medicine or learn from your mistake.
And, yes, I'm not sure I've ever seen another comedian break character to apologise mid-act. Usually, if they're in danger of losing the room, they find other ways to win them back round while still maintaining their onstage persona. But I think he felt it was his only option in that moment. And, in any case, it worked. The goodwill was instantly back.
Obviously, I don't know the full story, but I respect the risk this comedian took, and their honesty and good faith in just holding up their hands, mid-act, and admitting they made a mistake, and then moving on. I wish more people would do that, particularly in politics, rather than try to save face (and potentially dig an even bigger hole), but unfortunately, it's often seen as a weakness. Some comics may be able to get around it more seamlessly, but I respect the sincerity and integrity in cutting your losses, so to speak, and admitting an error early on, and I think, by-and-large, a lot of people respect that approach. You're appealing to an audience's sense of empathy, and I think a lot of us appreciate that.
shareI could see Rock apologizing if Smith had behaved like a man and simply took rock aside in private and explained that he had offended his wife with the joke. Instead he chose to walk up on stage and humiliate him in front of millions of people. If Smith weren't a celebrity he would have been arrested for the assault.
shareGood point.
Initially, I honestly took Smith's side (and FWIW, I still don't think he should be banned from the Oscars, although, for his sake, it was probably a very good thing that neither he nor Jada were there at this year's ceremony, and it's understandably going to take a long while for him to live it down). I genuinely thought Rock was in the wrong for picking on Jada's hair (I still do), BUT the response far-outweighed the initial 'crime', so to speak, and whatever wrong Rock initially did, has, in my opinion, been overshadowed and effectively wiped away by Smith's actions, and Jada's apparent part in cajoling Smith to 'take action'.
I would still prefer not to hear Rock make jokes about Black women's hair in future BUT any other joke he makes at Smith and Jada's expense, specifically with respect to their behaviour that night, is 100% fair game from now on, at least until Smith and Jada make a sincere apology.
And, the hair jokes aside, I'm now beginning to think Rock is one of the most perceptive and spot-on comedians and cultural observers out there right now. He's a lib, like me, but he's also got the fucking sense to see through Harry & Meg's BS, and the DNC's BS. In other words, he's a down-to-earth common-sense liberal; not a high-handed DNC establishment shill. Which is probably why a lot of Black women hate him; I was once told off for using the phrase 'establishment Democrats', by someone who believed I was referring to Black women; whilst I wasn't at the time, if that's what Black women are, they can make their own bed, because I'm standing up for BLACK MEN, the ones who see through ALL the bullshit, and recognise that just because the GOP is full of white supremacists, that doesn't *necessarily* mean the party of Hillary 'super-predators' Clinton, Amy "I'm going to call the police on a Black man who politely asked me to leash my dog" Cooper, and Amy 'Black Men are more sexist' Schumer, and Sarah 'Blackface' Silverman, has got their backs.
An apology is an admission of guilt. When you apologize, you are validating the other persons being offended. You are telling them they were right, and you were wrong.
You wouldn’t last long as an offensive joke telling comedian if you were willing to do this all the time, because someone is always going to be offended.
In your interpersonal relationships, fine. If you want to apologize to a friend or family member to be the bigger person, and end the fight, I get it.
I don't think Rock did anything wrong....or even particularly offensive or risky in his jokes at The Oscars.
The people who are saying Rock deserved to be assaulted are being pretty simple-minded about the situation as a whole.
Think about it...
Jada had already owned her situation....talked about her condition on her show and in interviews, and chose to rock the shaved/close-cropped look (as she had done in the past on occasion). She even bedazzled it! It wasn't a foreign look for her....and it's certainly not a foreign look in society. Several gorgeous, high-fashion models and actresses have rocked that look in recent years. In short, it's a mainstream look now...and I'd assume a woman who's rocking it with confidence and agency...would much rather be treated like anyone else, and not like someone with a "condition", who should be pitied, or treated with kid gloves.
Chris Rock was actually giving Jada that kind of respect, not walking on eggshells or pulling punches because Jada should be pitied...but rather, he treated her like the popular, strong, confident actress (who happens to rock a close-cropped look) that she is!
A vast majority of people thought Demi Moore was strong, sexy and attractive in her GI Jane roll. And I doubt ANYONE pitied her for a shaved hairstyle! So when Chris Rock cpmpared her to the sexy and confident Demi Moore in GI Jane, he was bringing some fun normalcy and validation....maybe even sexiness....to the look Jada was rocking.
Do women want to be treated with kid gloves? Should they be treated like they are weak? If Jada were ashamed of her look, she'd have worn a head covering, or a wig. Chris doesn't pull punches, on men or women. He did nothing wrong.
Will Smith, on the other hand, revealed his true self to millions of people. A screaming, raving DB who can't control himself.
And 15 minutes later....people gave him a standing o?????? People are stupid.
Will Smith, on the other hand, revealed his true self to millions of people. A screaming, raving DB who can't control himself.
And 15 minutes later....people gave him a standing o?????? People are stupid.
Why on earth he should apologize. Do you know at how many people comedians joke? Do you think they will joke and the apologize to every idiot?
In his special he joked about Kris Kardashian, OJ Simpson, Meghan Markle and many others. Do you think he should apologize now? LOL Or they have to come and physically kick him to make a point that they are offended and he needs to apologize?
And they laughed at all the jokes, until it was their turn. Well, actually Will still laughed. The point is that if you are enjoying everyone else getting roasted, you can’t get outraged when it’s your turn. Even if you don’t think it’s funny, you should know it was a joke.
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Getting off the apology subject a bit, I think Jada likes the notoriety of her battling this horrible affliction so bravely.
Here's what I don't get. She wears a buzz cut (not a shave) so her alopecia is very minor if it exists at all. My friend has it and right in the middle of a full growth of hair there are several spots that look like it was shaved perfectly. Jada wears that buzz cut and I haven't seen any bald spots on her.
Further, in a world where women wear extensions, weaves, and full wigs even with a full head of hair, why is she walking around with a G.I. Jane haircut?