I wonder who Will Smith voted for president in 2020. Because what he did at the Oscars last night was a demonstration of a bully, not a righteous knight in shining armor wreaking his revenge at his lady being sullied.
Granted, the joke Chris Rock told on Smith's wife was tasteless and rude, focusing on her lack of hair caused by disease, which she has not hidden from the public. And, if you were watching, she didn't think it was funny in the least; it felt like humiliating someone in a wheel chair. Rock is good at those cheap shots, supposedly safely delivered to another person of color--whose husband didn't appreciate it.
So Smith simply walked up to Rock on live TV, right there on the stage, and slapped him very hard. I must admit I have never seen that, ever, though Maury Povich and Jerry Springer have hosted a few of those confrontations, from what I understand. But those shows are practically designed to promote such rowdiness--not the Oscars, which are supposed to emote the best in style and decorum.
At first, it looked as if it was a slick fake. Rock didn't go down, but he swerved with the blow. The next 15 seconds or so revealed the intent, because ABC, with its tape delay, managed to blip out whatever Rock said in response, which obviously wasn't for a broad national audience.
Then, as if it were an imprimatur of the act, not 15 minutes later, Smith was awarded the Best Actor award for his role as Venus and Serena Williams' father in "King Richard." It was as if, as he admitted in his strained acceptance speech, he had reverted to the protective father that he had espoused in the film. He spoke of "protecting his family," among other things as he offered what I thought to be hurried and token apologies.
But the damage is done. The example is set. Will Smith showed the nation, better than our ex-president had by merely suggesting it many times in his campaign speeches, that the best way to settle a score is to deliver an actual cheap shot, without warning, to someone engaging in a verbal cheap shot. I wonder how many viewing said to themselves, There. Now shut your mouth, without realizing what that blow had justified.
Because it has justified the same thing taking place in any venue. If you can smack someone in the face at the Oscars, you might justify the same kind of blow, even worse, in other public meetings, especially political ones. Watch for this election cycle to feature invasions by bullies, especially onto stages in which Democrats criticize Republicans, who will now justify defending their "honor" by what Will Smith did, particularly because he, as a black man, delivered it to another black man. If I were a candidate for office bent on making public speeches, I would immediately sign up for martial arts training.
Beyond that, though, it's another reduction in the status of free speech. Smith could have, and in hindsight should have, taken Rock to task either after the ceremony backstage, or, more notably, when he came forward to accept his award. To point out Rock's tastelessness to a national audience would have made Rock look really bad and would no doubt have lowered his status in the minds of many--because some of what he managed to say through tears was measured and needed to be said.
Now, Rock is a victim, in some minds deserving some empathy. He gets paid to tell jokes, and he's known for leaping over barriers. He went too far, which might be lost in this fervor. But more speech was needed, not the ruin of a physical attack.
Smith has apologized, a day later. Wonder if his lawyer recommended it. But it hasn't stopped the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, which sponsors the Oscars, from launching an investigation, which it certainly should. It says here that it should publicly scold Rock for his coarseness, not invite him to help host the event ever again, and suspend Smith's attendance at the ceremony for at least one year, whether he happens to be nominated for an award or not.
And it should say so very loudly. This is far worse than mixing up who gets the award for Best Picture, a gaffe which happened not so far ago. This is a serious broach of protocol and an invitation for others to sully other celebrations similarly (the comedian invited to the White House Correspondents' Dinner, for instance, had better double check his script). The Oscars have suffered from a distinct lack of following in recent years; this won't help that trend. Instead, the slap shattered a well-regarded image of prestige and honor.
The status of civilizations rise through the efforts of many; it falls through demonstrations of a few. The Capitol is invaded by a mob ginned-up by lies; the Oscars are diminished by an uncalled-for vengeful slap by a corked-off husband of a recipient. If people who are supposed to be in control can't maintain it, there's little point in bringing them together to celebrate, to honor, and to recognize the good things that people do. Then we all lose.
Be well. Be careful. With some luck, I'll see you down the road.
Mister Mark
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