Will Smith’s infamous Oscar slap allowed Chris Rock a year of victimhood. In Rock’s routine, the slap for mean humor morphed into “a punch in the face.” Rock can be thankful it was only a slap. With Smith’s athleticism and knowledge, an unimpeded punch would likely have dropped Rock like a rock.
Did Rock deserve a rhetorical slap in the face? Yes. Mean humor hurts people. Was Smith wrong to physically slap Rock? Yes. Physical violence, a terrible example, resolved nothing.
By sniping at the Smiths, mocking Jada Pinkett Smith’s health issues, and mischaracterizing the slap, Rock establishes himself as a liar and a verbal bully. Many await a sincere and public apology from Rock. Smith has apologized.
Perhaps a verbal rebuke could have engaged Chris Rock and Will Smith in a meaningful dialogue on caustic humor.
Chris Rock is no fool. Will Smith gave him a cow, and Rock knows how to milk her.
