The Slap

I am sure that we all watched in shock as Will Smith slapped Chris Rock on the stage during the Oscars. It must have been a terrifying moment as his palm landed across the cheek of Chris Rock. A lot of people particularly at the program were wondering if this was part of the comedy sketch. There worst fear was realized when Will Smith sat down and started shouting obscenities at Chris Rock.

Everyone including me was taken aback by what had just happened on live television, were millions of people all over the world were watching. For those who don't know the Oscars is a really big event. Only the Olympics, World Cup and the Grammys come close to it. So it was really shocking that something like this could happen. How will someone slap another person in the Oscars. Today I will be taking the different sides to the story and try and explain everything as short as possible.

It all started when Chris Rock came on stage and started making jokes. He wasn't targeting anyone in particular and everyone was laughing. He went from person to person making jokes about them. He finally went to Will Smith and his wife Jada. He made a joke and Jada hair loss condition. Will first took the joke in good spirits but his wife wasn't too happy about it. When he saw this, he decided to 'man up' and defend his wife honor. He then proceeded to the stage and gave Chris a deafening slap. Chris didn't retaliate and even made a joke about it.

Will then went back to his seat and then shouted at the top of his voice for Chris to never mention his wife name in any of his jokes. Chris said okay and it was a very awkward moment after that. You should have seen the reaction on everyone's face. The organisers were surprised by this and didn't know what to do. How will you send a man like Will Smith out? The show then went on a break.

Twitter went into a frenzy as people shared their different opinions on the issue. Some thought that he went too far and as a public figure he should have controlled his emotions and not react that way. Another group of people said that what he did was understandable and that he was only human. That how would you react if someone disrespected your wife or any of your family member like that. Won't you stand up and defend them. It's the only reasonable thing to do as a man. This doesn't justify his caveman response though as there were better ways he could have handled it.

Another school of thought had the opinion that the Oscars were biased. That immediately after that slap he should have been escorted out of the venue. They said that if it was another person, he/she would have been immediately sent out but because he is Will Smith they let it slide. They also argued that he should have been stripped of the Oscar that he won for best actor in his movie King Richard immediately after that incident. Someone like him isn't worthy of that honor.

He later went on to apologize and said that his actions were inappropriate but we don't know if that would be enough for the organizers of the Oscars not to strip him of the award.

Here is my two cents on the issue

What Will Smith did is totally wrong and unjustifiable but I totally understand why he did it. As a man we need to stand up and defend those we care for. It's sort of an animal instinct. So anybody that disrespect or tries to hurt any of our family members will feel our wrath. I myself might do something like that if I find myself in that kind of situation. But this doesn't justify his actions. As a public figure he shouldn't be doing that. Many people including children look up to him. He should have put his emotions in check and talked to Chris Rock privately about the joke telling him that his wife didn't like it.

But all of this makes me wonder, why will Will defend his wife after all that she has done to him?