Smith v. Rock: Heavyweight Egos
The Oscars and their attendees are out of touch
It was a match-up that no one expected, yet by a unanimous vote – both Will Smith and Chris Rock lost in their boxing match during the Oscars.
The slap heard ‘round the world was shocking, jaw-dropping (just ask Nicole Kidman) and embarrassing on both sides. Chris Rock made a joke about Will Smith’s wife, Jada Pinkett Smith and her alopecia, alluding to her looking like G.I. Jane. The joke didn’t land, and instead Smith’s hand landed on Rock’s face.
The joke was inconsiderate and better left unsaid, but Will Smith’s physicality was just as unnecessary.
When the Oscars stage was turned into a boxing ring, it was the only moment from the show that flooded social media and news channels. And frankly, it's not just embarrassing for Will Smith and Chris Rock, but the entire culture associated with the Oscars: celebrities think their fame allows them to act out of line and without consequences. Also, the petty fight and joke drew attention away from much more important topics that the Oscars could have emphasized.
Chris Rock has proved time and time again to be problematic, demonstrated once more by a chronic illness punchline. Comedy is about carefully pushing the boundaries, but this was a clear overstep. Rock has a track record of insulting jokes and the academy knew what they were signing up for when they asked him to speak.
When a comedian is on stage, the next few words about to come out of their mouth are unpredictable and at times shocking. There was that same heavy feeling when Rock was about to make his jab at Pinkett Smith. But given the fact that the Oscars’ ratings have fallen dramatically over the past few years, I wouldn’t be surprised if they intentionally inserted a controversial joke to increase the views and buzz around the event.
A Washington Post article deemed Will Smith’s slap an act of “misguided chivalry.” However, there is nothing brave or noble about becoming physically violent on national television. The first thing you learn in preschool is “no hitting,” but apparently that message gets lost in translation once the cameras roll.
There really is no issue with just yelling and stopping there. The principle of Will Smith standing up for his wife is justified, but his failed audition at replacing Michael B. Jordan in Creed III left something to be desired—social awareness. The Oscars gather the most famous, talented and elite celebrities in Hollywood and access to this circle is near impossible, yet the whole nation gets a birds eye view on their drama.
This doesn’t mean celebrities should be given an excuse for the inappropriate decisions or actions they make in the public eye, but the celebrities are not the only perpetrators. The pretentious and exclusive atmosphere associated with the Oscars also contributes to the mindset that an outburst like this is okay. It's not. Nonetheless, the Oscars will profit from the increased viewership of the show and feed this elitist culture.
For those that are not pop culture or film fanatics, the Oscars are probably not on your radar. Still, the altercation between Rock and Smith circulated quickly. The award show is also known for being politically and socially active, but due to the drama that happened on stage, this wasn’t reflected as much as usual during post-show reviews.
Celebrities and actors often make a conscious effort to use their platform to bring awareness about these issues. However, at the same time, they also have the privilege to disregard their platforms.
Reflecting on the Oscars, the culture surrounding this year’s event allowed this to happen. There was a lot of recognition for intersectionality in the arts and global events, but Chris Rock and Will Smith overpowered its importance with a two second interaction.
The Oscars try to produce a prestigious image and lately it hasn’t helped them in terms of their accessibility and ratings. But last night's reality television bit was a missed opportunity to draw attention to major moments around the world.