Right is right and wrong ain't nowhere...Will Smith should be charged

[Baltimike]

and banned from the Academy forthwith.

Fuck that guy.

[Evergreen Emerald]

1. I agree.

I cannot believe he was not escorted out of the building after that Karen display.

[delisen]

11. Uh man hits man. How did you make this a female issue. Quite a sexist leap. nt

[Walleye]

13. Really? Why did the man hit the man? Love makes you do crazy things?

[delisen]

22. Don't think you understand my comment. nt

[Walleye]

27. Probably not. This frenzy over one star slapping another has got me kind of confused

I wouldn’t be surprised if Smith had been a little alcohol impaired

[samnsara]

2. i was enjoying the oscars up until then.. all the women and the diversity and then

..he had to ruin it for everyone. He should be charged and i will refuse to watch that movie.

[delisen]

17. The person who got hit can decide to press charges. nt

[CincyDem]

32. LA Police reported that Chris Rock declined to press charges. n/t

[Mosby]

82. It's a common cop out.

There were hundreds of witnesses, any of whom could testify, but they don't like to prosecute when the victim isn't cooperating. There is one area of law where this is different - domestic violence. A lot of state legislators have passed laws requiring prosecution, so charges are filed even when the victim isn't cooperating or planning to show up in court.

So it's not really up to the victim whether charges are filed or not.

[Srkdqltr]

3. Lighten up he was just being funny. Chris Rock can't take a joke?

[Baltimike]

4. physical violence is not a joke. That wasn't scripted. nt

[Srkdqltr]

6. Verbal violence isn't a joke either.

[yardwork]

8. The law distinguishes between the two.

[Baltimike]

9. Oh good grief. Sticks and stones may break your bones but names will never hurt you

Telling a joke about hair loss isn't "verbal violence" either

[Srkdqltr]

14. Sticks and stones is the worst bull of all. I find people who enjoy others discomfort detestable.

[Evergreen Emerald]

19. Do you honestly think Smith's behavior was ok?

Seriously, the violence in our society is becoming more and more common place. And for some, more and more acceptable.

[Srkdqltr]

23. Violence is violence. Rock was verbally violent to Jada . he got his reaction.

Maybe Smith was joking? Rock can dish it out but can't take it?

[Baltimike]

24. Nice try. No dice. Hitting someone is a crime. Telling a joke about someone is not.

Verbal violence, in this case, is straight up bullshit.

[Orrex]

58. What if the comment had come from Amy Schumer instead of Chris Rock?

Would Smith have shared his particular physical "humor" with her as well?

Would he be defended?

[Srkdqltr]

60. Amy didn't. Rock did.

[Chautauquas]

63. Go around punching people cuz you don't like what they say

is a good way to build a criminal record

[Orrex]

71. No shit.

Your refusal to answer tells me that you know the answer.

[treestar]

74. No, that saying is about how ones lets it affect them

It has nothing to do with someone enjoying discomfort.

It's a thing a kid says to taunt someone who has said something that is supposed to be insulting.

[Walleye]

18. 👆

[Sunsky]

15. One is against the law

Furthermore, do we even know if Chris knew of Jada's condition and was intentionally making fun of her? How about Jada's opinion of the matter, do we know that?

[LiberatedUSA]

21. Verbal violence?

Good fucking grief.

I hope you don’t go walking around assaulting people for their words in a society that can carry concealed guns. That is a really dangerous view to have; the idea one can attack another for their words.

[Emile]

39. Comparing ones wife to Demi Moore is not in anyways verbal violence!

[USALiberal]

5. I agree, imagine if a non-famous person did it! Nt

[Johnny2X2X]

7. Agree, physical violence in response to a joke is not OK

And let's be honest here, that was a crummy joke to tell, it was in poor taste, but it wasn't way over any line, there's a thousand things Chris Rock could have said that would be more offensive.

And everyone today seems to be, "Oh, that Will Smith, he's got a family he's standing up for..." What about Chris Rock and his family? He's got a wife and kids at home that just saw him get assaulted in front of 500 million people on TV.

[Baltimike]

10. this. nt

[Blues Heron]

12. How is it up to Chris Rock if charges are filed or not?

Didn't everybody witness the assault?

[33taw]

33. Chris Rock did not want him charged. He is considered the victim.

[Blues Heron]

34. right but is it always up to the victim? Im not clear on how it all works assault-wise

[mopinko]

47. pretty much.

some states have passed laws allowing cops who see a domestic attack file the charges.
but that's why a lot of abusers dont go to jail. their victims wont file charges.

[Blues Heron]

48. Thanks

[WhiskeyGrinder]

16. Lol good lord

[Goonch]

20. HUBRIS

[NightWatcher]

25. Heckler assaults comedian at comedy show.

If Rock was wrong, he'd have been the one to apologize.

[Baltimike]

53. this. nt

[eShirl]

26. He should have handled it after the show, not during.

Presumably by then he would have calmed down enough not to assault anyone.

[Srkdqltr]

28. There are a lot of people who feel making fun of others is funny. Look at all the defense of it .

Do any of you realize how hated you must be when you make fun of others? Watch your backs.

[LisaL]

29. Chris is apparently refusing to file a police report.

So Will Smith won't be charged. Even though it's on tape in front of many witnesses.

[crim son]

30. Before seeing a vid of the event

I was prepared to give Smith a pass. Now that I've seen what happened, nope.

[madville]

31. A misdemeanor assault in most jurisdictions

Do they still prosecute misdemeanors in California?

[sky_masterson]

35. "love makes you do crazy things"

Is something abusers often say. That wasn't love making him do crazy things it was anger.
The fact Smith wasn't punished in any way for it is just a pass for a shitty reaction.

[sky_masterson]

36. Also, What if Lisa Lampaneli told that same joke

And Smith smacked her. Would that be ok?

[Srkdqltr]

59. Ya but she didn't. Rock did.

[sky_masterson]

62. And Smith overreacted

He was wrong.

[Johnny2X2X]

40. Agree

The way he justified it afterwards was the way a spoiled child would act.

What if in response to being assaulted live on television, Chris Rock had picked up a mic stand and split Will Smith's skull with it? Would people be saying, "Well, the things you do for love..."

[tavernier]

37. Insult comedians have been around since kings and jesters.

They have been given a certain immunity, despite some unfunny and sometimes disgusting jokes. It would have been more insulting to Rock for Will and Jada to just walk out until his dumb jokes were over.

[SYFROYH]

38. Banned from the academy would be worse.

[unblock]

43. He'll never win another Oscar

Whether banned, disqualified, or whatever; enough academy members will refuse to vote for him that he'll never win again.

[SYFROYH]

45. true, very true

[Lunabell]

41. That's up to Chris Rick

And he declined. Move on.

[Mad_Machine76]

42. Rock was in the wrong too and hope he apologizes (if he hasn't)

but Will was wrong to respond with violence like that and should face consequences.

[Emile]

44. Seeking mental health should be the consequence.

[The Jungle 1]

46. The same thing happens in every hockey game.

But nothing ever happens!
I do not support this action however it was an open hand. In hockey it is a punch which could do real damage.

[global1]

49. When A Celebrity Attends An Event Like The Oscars One Has To Expect....

that one may be the butt of a joke.

You would think that one would have developed a thick skin being a celebrity and know that such jokes are all in the fun of the moment.

Most unfortunate.

I wonder what Don Rickles is thinking about this incident as he looks down and watched this play out.

[hamsterjill]

50. While I agree with the premise

I think the fact that Chris Rock has chosen not to press charges is his decision, and makes him the bigger man here.

This needs to go away. The incident last night detracted from all of the other winners and honorees. To continue a court case would only continue the blight on Hollywood.

Chris and Will need to take up the offer to “settle this like family” and be done with it.

[Baltimike]

57. This is very true...and while I did post this before I knew that...

Smith should be sanctioned in some way.

Assaulting someone on live national tv is not okay.

[luv2fly]

51. It is never acceptable to make fun of how someone looks

Never ever acceptable. Doesn't matter who it is or what the issue is. Doesn't matter who the target is or who is making fun of someone, it is never okay.

Goes for all of us too. I cringe a little every time I read something about how Sinema dresses, or Ted Cruz's beard, etc etc etc. We can all be better.

[Baltimike]

54. The joke was HORRIBLE, but the reaction was worse.

Will Smith knew he wouldn't get in trouble for this.

Shows two Americas...one for the rich and privileged and another for the rest of us.

[luv2fly]

68. Sorry no, you don't make fun of how people look, period.

Violence is not an answer but I understand it.

And two Americas in this case? Please, they are both stars.

[Baltimike]

72. Sorry, no, you don't lay your hands on other people, period.

Your understanding violence does not excuse it.

And, yes, privilege. Will Smith knew damn right well he would have a seat instead of being escorted out of there. His victim does not make a difference in that regard.

[luv2fly]

76. So making fun of how people look is okay with you

Got it.

[SYFROYH]

65. Chris Rock is bigger person in this interaction.

Almost every other comic would have slowly said, "Jaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa-Daaaaaaaaaaaaaa" after Smith said to keep her name out of his effing mouth.

[luv2fly]

69. It's not a contest

And no one should make fun of people. If you do, you might deserve what happens.

[Baltimike]

73. It's not a contest, and violence is not the answer to words

words = insult

violence = assault

These ain't the same

[Midnight Writer]

52. Can't wait for the Grammys.

[fishwax]

55. I think he was in the wrong, but I don't think he necessarily needs to be charged

I don't think every digression requires the use of force, whether Smith using force against Rock or the state using its force against Smith. Rock doesn't want to press charges, apparently, so the de-escalation seems appropriate here.

[Xoan]

56. Nah 🤪

[bigtree]

61. nope

...little spats break out at work sometimes between heated up folks, men and women, and most times it takes a little cooling off and a round of apologies and warnings to settle an insult and a slap.

You give allowances for first time offenses in which no one was in any great harm.

[Baltimike]

67. He was assaulted on live national television

Rock not pressing charges makes me think this thing was staged after all

[bigtree]

70. he was provoked into what resulted in a slap

...might be prosecutable, and some grandstanding attorney general might pursue it, or Chris Rock.

But most judges would look at the circumstances and take the provocation into account, leaving Smith with a slap (ironically) on the wrist.

The hysterical calls for his arrest are absurd. It was a tiff between acquaintances in an industry event which was basically a workplace. Valued workers engaging in a tiff and a slap don't normally get the cops called on them. They get a reprimand, usually verbal, and are sent back to work (if there's any reason at all about them, and there's no further threat of an argument), a suspension, at best, if the employer values them.

That's what I'd do in that situation, not jump to charges. That's what most people would do, imo, in that position.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

77. Thank you, bigtree.

Chris shouldn't have insulted his wife and Will shouldn't have slapped him but the calls for Will's arrest and prosecution are over the top. What do you think the response of the police would be to a gentleman who calls the police and says he was at a party and insulted a man's wife and the man slapped him and there were no injuries involved?

[Jedi Guy]

78. Hm. No, don't think so.

I feel like if I got "heated up" and slapped one of my coworkers (male or female) I'd be out of a job in the best-case scenario and out of a job and charged with assault in the worst-case scenario. Most of us learn not to put hands on other people when we're children. Either Mr. Smith never learned that lesson or (more likely) he knew that his celebrity would almost certainly shield him from any serious consequences for his decision to engage in physical violence.

It appears he was correct in that assessment.

[bigtree]

79. they make too much money for those 'employers'

...and this was little more than an embarrassingly public tiffle.

I wouldn't try and have people of that caliber fired, arrested, or any of the other punitive nonsense. I'd work to resolve it with a warning or reprimand, and I've managed several dozen men and women in my work experience.

No need to criminalize a taunt and a slap, and I'd be just as inclined to reprimand the instigator, as I would be the person they instigated.

[Jedi Guy]

80. Just saying, in my experience your example doesn't hold up.

Anywhere I've ever worked that saw an incident in which one employee put hands on another, regardless of provocation or who brings in how much money, the employee who threw hands got fired. There's too much liability involved in such a situation for a normal employer to look the other way, since the assaulted employee could make a strong case for a hostile work environment afterward.

The only reason that does not hold true here is because Hollywood is not, in any way, shape, or form, a normal work environment.

[bigtree]

83. that's just not my experience and I worked 35 years in retail

...you protect workers as valuable as those two from even the consequences of their own actions, at least initially, especially if there's no actual complaint from the person supposed to be the victim.

I understand that many employers might act to keep their work environment safe, but it's ludicrous to apply that to this industry event. They'll protect their assets, both of them, as well they should.

[Jedi Guy]

84. I worked mainly in finance until very recently, so perhaps that's why.

Different expectations and standards of behavior in different industries, I suppose. I work in HVAC now, so I wouldn't be all that surprised if two of our technicians slugged it out on Monday, got suspended for the rest of the week, and were back to work the next Monday but kept separated from one another. It's much more blue-collar than I'm used to, without wishing to sound snobby.

[LexVegas]

64. Smith is a punk...Rock is a professional. I don't think charges are necessary. nt

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

66. Supposedly dependent on whether Chris Rock wishes to press charges

Didn't look like much of a slap to me but I wasn't on the receiving end of it.

[iemanja]

75. Chris Rock isn't pressing charges

but the Academy has opened a formal review.

https://www.usatoday.com/story/entertainment/celebrities/2022/03/28/oscars-chris-rock-will-smith-police/7189129001/

[bigtree]

81. "We're not going to take that Oscar from him,"

"We’re not going to take that Oscar from him,” Goldberg said on "The View." "There will be consequences I’m sure, but I don’t think that’s what they’re going to do, particularly because Chris said, ‘Listen, I’m not pressing any charges.' ”