The Oscars: What Everyone is Talking About
Many of us have seen the clip of Will Smith slapping Chris Rock on stage at the Oscars. For those of you who have not, Chris Rock made a joke about Jada Pinkett Smith’s hair, saying: “Jada I love you. GI Jane 2, can't wait to see you.” As a result, Will Smith proceeded to walk on stage, slap Chris Rock across the face, and engage in a verbal argument with the comedian from the audience. For brief background, Jada Pinkett Smith has been open about being diagnosed with Alopecia, a disorder that causes hair loss. This instance has taken the social media world by storm leading to the creation of memes, stories about downfalls, and an ongoing debate about whose side to take. Consequently, this instance has been a magnet for judgmental attitudes, imposing personal views, rather than trying to understand this situation more critically. Perhaps there is more going on than what the eye leads us to see. Before any of us try to judge either Chris Rock or Will Smith, we should consider what is potentially going on that fueled this instance. After considering the multiple facets of the issue at hand, then we can make assertions and conclusions about the instance.
Comedy is interesting because it dances upon a fine line between being socially acceptable and correct and crude. Comedians have what I argue to be a difficult task. To be funny in a world that is constrained. It is not necessarily a bad thing, because comedians have so many subjects that they can draw upon to create comedy including poking fun at others. To some extent, when you're a comedian you have a little bit more of an exemption to transgress conventional boundaries of everyday life. Comedians have impunity from social norms. In other words, they are exempt from traditional behavior, which allows them to take one step further, take a jab, make a remark, and send people laughing to the floor even if they can cause hurt to the recipient. Just because something is said with the intention to spark joy and laughter does not mean it cannot reveal insecurities, bring up some unsettled past, or just point out something about ourselves that we have not noticed or want to forget. Chris Rock may or may not have known about the condition, and if he did, did he cross the line? If he did not know about the disease, is the joke acceptable?
We should also consider that people are not always happy all the time. People can be emotional, especially celebrities, even though we think that they should have this happy facade because they have fame, fortune, and have the honor of being known as the “Fresh Prince.” We forget that behind these things is a human that can break. Imagine being unable to shed a tear, clench a fist, under the immense pressure and surveillance of society constantly creeping down your neck. We should not take this for granted. When we are upset, we have more privacy when it comes to our emotional lives. We may feel at the moment as though our family and friends asking us if we are okay are starting to surround the fences that guard us. But, in actuality, it is incomparable to have the whole world watching you. We should not think of celebrities being excluded from this principle. If they are not able to show emotions, are they, humans? Some people will argue that you sign up for the spotlight when you take on the title of “celebrity.” I think it reveals a double standard. How would you feel if your career defined how you were treated? It is hard to believe that society would endorse such an idea. Imagine someone saying to you that you cannot express your emotions because you earned a doctorate, or if you are an entrepreneur. It does not make sense. So why do we see celebrities in this light?
Perhaps this incident has become the talk of the town because it includes violence. For those debating the significance of a slap opposed to a fist in terms of legality, it becomes irrelevant. We all make mistakes. However, I do not think we should let our mistakes define us. It may be a cliche, but how we deal with our mistakes is most important. I am certainly not suggesting that there should not be repercussions for our actions. However, dealing and learning from our mistakes moving forward are critical steps towards being better people. I think Chris Rock and Will Smith will both be reflecting on this idea as they move forward. Please understand I am not condoning violence. Violence should not be the substitution for expressing ourselves or taking a stance against hurtful comedy. In that way, Will Smith will be in the wrong. However, I cannot judge him at that moment for what he felt, only for what he did and how he responded. When taking in these considerations, you begin to understand the situation differently. It reveals how difficult it can be to operate within our own individual lives when we are part of a larger society.
Does this make some people feel uncomfortable supporting Smith or Rock moving forward? Perhaps. If there’s anything I have taken away from this instance it is that we have to view the actions of celebrities in different ways and not be so judgmental of them. Yes, what happened was wrong. However, I see this as an opportunity for both individuals to reflect and learn from it as they move forward. The hope is that in doing so, they both can be better and do better in the future.
Image obtained from Squarespace.
