There is no doubt in my mind that there will continue to be a torrent of remarks flying across every kind of media of outrage and condemnation towards Will Smith for his inexcusable conduct of slapping Chris Rock at the Oscars. All of the remarks coming from pundits, celebrities and the public, like “I’m outraged” or “I feel traumatized” including “Take his Oscar away from him” are just beyond me.
We are all entitled to have our opinion about what he did, what both of them did. As shown by Steven, while connecting the dots to the larger point of accountability as eloquently as ever. In as much as I don’t condone Smith’s conduct, part of me understands it. No one has to like what Smith did nor do they have to find Rock’s “Joke” appropriate or funny at all.
It got me to thinking, so I did a little research, and as the parlance goes “Therein lies the rub”. On March 10, 1977, then-43-year-old film director Roman Polanski was arrested and charged in Los Angeles with six offenses against a 13-year-old girl – unlawful sexual intercourse with a minor, rape by use of drugs, perversion, sodomy, lewd and lascivious act upon a child under 14, and furnishing a controlled substance to a minor. At his arraignment, Polanski pleaded not guilty to all charges but later accepted a plea bargain whose terms included dismissal of the five more serious charges in exchange for a guilty plea to the lesser charge of engaging in unlawful sexual intercourse with a minor. Hm..why would he do that? I wondered to myself. Nudge nudge wink wink.. But the judge would not accept his plea, so Polanski fled the country for Europe.
In the face of the events of 1977, in 2003 he was awarded The Academy Award for Best Director for “The Pianist”, a film that I saw. So, if we want to be outraged, perhaps we ought to be outraged about that..
I was looking through a case of DVDs today for a specific film, and came across a DVD of “Frantic” a Polanski film, it was made in 1988, and it occurred to me, none of the participants in that film had any outrage or problem working on it, nor did those who worked on “The Pianist”. But here we are in 2022 pointing our fingers at Will Smith with “traumatized outraged” condemnation. And for what, poor conduct at a live awards show? Yeah, I know, he hit him..But if we’re going to wave our fingers, we better pick up our hypocrisy along with our coats at the coatcheck..on our way home..
Apr 1, 2022·edited Apr 1, 2022Liked by Steven Beschloss
Just as I am growing old and seeking peace and calm in my life, a slap was brought into my living room and ruined my pleasant evening. I too just wanted a break from all the news and an escape from reality just for one night. We cannot escape it any longer. We are stuck in a loop of anger, retaliation, physical violence and an assault on our psyche that tries to make reason of chaos. We have all been assaulted.
"The age without consequences." What a wonderfully apt description of our times, Steven. Here's the thing, however: we may choose to bury our heads in the sand in the interests of expedience over morality and ignore the consequences of what's happening around us, but those consequences will come back to haunt us with tenfold vigor. There's no escaping physics: to every action there is a reaction. We glossed over the horrors of the war in Iraq and allowed the perpetrators to go unpunished. Well, here we are in the age of Trump.
AG Garland, we are begging you - are you listening?
First of all, Smith being asked to leave is apparently not true. Second, a slap is not assault, in my view. Thirdly, what would the conversation be IF Jada had slapped Chris Rock?
Will Smith should not have slapped Chris Rock. He could have taken the mike and explained why the "joke" was offensive. He has apologized, and Rock has shown largesse. For the media and internet to make it the major news every day is irresponsible. The Smiths have an open sexual relationship. To me, that is more questionable than a joke.Hollywood has nothing to do with me, actors' lives of no interest. I'm still back there with Liz Taylor and Gregory Peck. Recently, on twitter, a picture of a couple of actors getting engaged, I wrote ,"Who are they?" I got 594 impressions !
I agree with President Biden's remark that Putin needs to be gone.That, too, is what has been played up by the media. Seems they are only interested in presenting "news" that will draw the most attention, not what is important in this messed up world. When I have had enough of the same thing replayed all day and night on CNN and MSNBC, I turn to BBC. Speaking of violence, that is all there is on TV movies, programs, and alas, also so many books. Murder and sex, period. They come and go. Mayberry is still with us.
It is sad that no one takes responsibility for actions. Look at the Beta brothers at Penn State when hazing took the life of a pledge. Trump takes responsibility for nothing. Just lies. Couple of years ago, a woman drove through a red light, totaled my car, and practically my back and chest. Then she hired an attny and tried to get money from my insurance company, blaming me. She got not one cent. I think the old Dog ate my homework excuse applies to young and old these days. Maybe it always has.Republicans let Greene, Gaetz, Boebert say the most outlandish statements, no repercussions, but now, take Cawthorn to task for saying he went to an orgy.
As for trump, he is , in my opinion, just a blob taking up space. I wish people would stop making him news, showing his face all over the internet. Enough. I saw a car with a big cut out of his head glued to a back window. I saw a young woman in grocery store wearing a cap with the words Lets
Go Brandon. Makes one sick at heart.
Yep ! The world is messed up. The glass is half empty. : (
I had to subscribe just to write you. I know Will Smith’s actions were out of line, but it was only a slap, not a punch. Yes he should be punished for it, but Chris Rock’s joke was out of line. I don’t blame Will Smith that much because when I heard the joke I would’ve slapped him too.
I’ve had autoimmune alopecia since I was 6 years old, and completely bald by 13. The first wig I wore was to my brother’s funeral. I’ve been wearing them since.
I’ve had to endure horrible comments throughout my school years. At 57 I’ve become good enough that most people don’t know I’m wearing one.
The same day as the slap, I had my first long wig trimmed. I needed a change from the short styles all my life. I was timid about wearing it around as it’s such a drastic change and people will notice. After I read about Jada Pinkett Smith’s struggles, I was empowered. The entire alopecia community is actually thankful for the slap incident, because people are reading or hearing about the disease than ever. That empowers all of us in the community who’s ever held back their lives because of this disease. I know I have in the past. And it’s all because of a highly televised slap. Good for Will Smith who stood up for his wife, and single-handedly opened up a public conversation about our disease. Just like congresswoman Pressly, Jada has brought celebrity awareness to all of us. Who knows? Maybe someday I’ll be be brave enough to go without my wig, and rock rhinestones on my head. With continued public awareness we will all be a little less afraid of living with this disease. Thank you for reading.
Steven, wow. A spoiled Hollywood star violently physically attacks another human being on stage in front of millions because he got his feelings hurt. and you make it about Trump? Are you aware of the sea-change of voter opinion going on in this country? Have you seen any polling? Have you noticed that WaPo and NYT have authenticated the Hunter Laptop? Will you report on that? Just wondering.
There is no doubt in my mind that there will continue to be a torrent of remarks flying across every kind of media of outrage and condemnation towards Will Smith for his inexcusable conduct of slapping Chris Rock at the Oscars. All of the remarks coming from pundits, celebrities and the public, like “I’m outraged” or “I feel traumatized” including “Take his Oscar away from him” are just beyond me.
We are all entitled to have our opinion about what he did, what both of them did. As shown by Steven, while connecting the dots to the larger point of accountability as eloquently as ever. In as much as I don’t condone Smith’s conduct, part of me understands it. No one has to like what Smith did nor do they have to find Rock’s “Joke” appropriate or funny at all.
It got me to thinking, so I did a little research, and as the parlance goes “Therein lies the rub”. On March 10, 1977, then-43-year-old film director Roman Polanski was arrested and charged in Los Angeles with six offenses against a 13-year-old girl – unlawful sexual intercourse with a minor, rape by use of drugs, perversion, sodomy, lewd and lascivious act upon a child under 14, and furnishing a controlled substance to a minor. At his arraignment, Polanski pleaded not guilty to all charges but later accepted a plea bargain whose terms included dismissal of the five more serious charges in exchange for a guilty plea to the lesser charge of engaging in unlawful sexual intercourse with a minor. Hm..why would he do that? I wondered to myself. Nudge nudge wink wink.. But the judge would not accept his plea, so Polanski fled the country for Europe.
In the face of the events of 1977, in 2003 he was awarded The Academy Award for Best Director for “The Pianist”, a film that I saw. So, if we want to be outraged, perhaps we ought to be outraged about that..
I was looking through a case of DVDs today for a specific film, and came across a DVD of “Frantic” a Polanski film, it was made in 1988, and it occurred to me, none of the participants in that film had any outrage or problem working on it, nor did those who worked on “The Pianist”. But here we are in 2022 pointing our fingers at Will Smith with “traumatized outraged” condemnation. And for what, poor conduct at a live awards show? Yeah, I know, he hit him..But if we’re going to wave our fingers, we better pick up our hypocrisy along with our coats at the coatcheck..on our way home..
Just as I am growing old and seeking peace and calm in my life, a slap was brought into my living room and ruined my pleasant evening. I too just wanted a break from all the news and an escape from reality just for one night. We cannot escape it any longer. We are stuck in a loop of anger, retaliation, physical violence and an assault on our psyche that tries to make reason of chaos. We have all been assaulted.
"The age without consequences." What a wonderfully apt description of our times, Steven. Here's the thing, however: we may choose to bury our heads in the sand in the interests of expedience over morality and ignore the consequences of what's happening around us, but those consequences will come back to haunt us with tenfold vigor. There's no escaping physics: to every action there is a reaction. We glossed over the horrors of the war in Iraq and allowed the perpetrators to go unpunished. Well, here we are in the age of Trump.
AG Garland, we are begging you - are you listening?
Sadly Garland isn’t going to do squat.
First of all, Smith being asked to leave is apparently not true. Second, a slap is not assault, in my view. Thirdly, what would the conversation be IF Jada had slapped Chris Rock?
Yeah, 100% different.
Will Smith should not have slapped Chris Rock. He could have taken the mike and explained why the "joke" was offensive. He has apologized, and Rock has shown largesse. For the media and internet to make it the major news every day is irresponsible. The Smiths have an open sexual relationship. To me, that is more questionable than a joke.Hollywood has nothing to do with me, actors' lives of no interest. I'm still back there with Liz Taylor and Gregory Peck. Recently, on twitter, a picture of a couple of actors getting engaged, I wrote ,"Who are they?" I got 594 impressions !
I agree with President Biden's remark that Putin needs to be gone.That, too, is what has been played up by the media. Seems they are only interested in presenting "news" that will draw the most attention, not what is important in this messed up world. When I have had enough of the same thing replayed all day and night on CNN and MSNBC, I turn to BBC. Speaking of violence, that is all there is on TV movies, programs, and alas, also so many books. Murder and sex, period. They come and go. Mayberry is still with us.
It is sad that no one takes responsibility for actions. Look at the Beta brothers at Penn State when hazing took the life of a pledge. Trump takes responsibility for nothing. Just lies. Couple of years ago, a woman drove through a red light, totaled my car, and practically my back and chest. Then she hired an attny and tried to get money from my insurance company, blaming me. She got not one cent. I think the old Dog ate my homework excuse applies to young and old these days. Maybe it always has.Republicans let Greene, Gaetz, Boebert say the most outlandish statements, no repercussions, but now, take Cawthorn to task for saying he went to an orgy.
As for trump, he is , in my opinion, just a blob taking up space. I wish people would stop making him news, showing his face all over the internet. Enough. I saw a car with a big cut out of his head glued to a back window. I saw a young woman in grocery store wearing a cap with the words Lets
Go Brandon. Makes one sick at heart.
Yep ! The world is messed up. The glass is half empty. : (
I had to subscribe just to write you. I know Will Smith’s actions were out of line, but it was only a slap, not a punch. Yes he should be punished for it, but Chris Rock’s joke was out of line. I don’t blame Will Smith that much because when I heard the joke I would’ve slapped him too.
I’ve had autoimmune alopecia since I was 6 years old, and completely bald by 13. The first wig I wore was to my brother’s funeral. I’ve been wearing them since.
I’ve had to endure horrible comments throughout my school years. At 57 I’ve become good enough that most people don’t know I’m wearing one.
The same day as the slap, I had my first long wig trimmed. I needed a change from the short styles all my life. I was timid about wearing it around as it’s such a drastic change and people will notice. After I read about Jada Pinkett Smith’s struggles, I was empowered. The entire alopecia community is actually thankful for the slap incident, because people are reading or hearing about the disease than ever. That empowers all of us in the community who’s ever held back their lives because of this disease. I know I have in the past. And it’s all because of a highly televised slap. Good for Will Smith who stood up for his wife, and single-handedly opened up a public conversation about our disease. Just like congresswoman Pressly, Jada has brought celebrity awareness to all of us. Who knows? Maybe someday I’ll be be brave enough to go without my wig, and rock rhinestones on my head. With continued public awareness we will all be a little less afraid of living with this disease. Thank you for reading.
Steven, wow. A spoiled Hollywood star violently physically attacks another human being on stage in front of millions because he got his feelings hurt. and you make it about Trump? Are you aware of the sea-change of voter opinion going on in this country? Have you seen any polling? Have you noticed that WaPo and NYT have authenticated the Hunter Laptop? Will you report on that? Just wondering.
Ric