Is Will Smith homophobic?

[apples and oranges]

The footage, obtained by TMZ, shows Smith in his typical good spirits making his way down the red carpet, openly accepting an embrace from the reporter. But things grow quickly tense as the man, wearing a white blazer, plants two kisses on either side of Smith's face, during which the two men's mouths come in close contact. "What the hell is your problem, buddy?!" Smith says as he pushes the reporter away, then back-hand slaps him on the cheek. Moments later, a slightly shaken Smith is heard to say, "He's lucky I didn't sucker-punch him."

http://movies.yahoo.com/news/smith-slaps-kiss-happy-reporter-moscow-premiere-men-201618613.html

[Catherine Vincent]

1. Don't know

But if that unwanted kiss had happened to me, I would have done the same thing. Smith was more cool with his though.

[brettdale]

2. slight overreaction

I think.

[Zorra]

4. +1

[MrSlayer]

3. I doubt it.

Being accepting of homosexuality doesn't mean you want guys kissing you. You are allowed to be offended by that. Personal space.

[Jamaal510]

21. +1

[Incitatus]

5. No, the reporter's actions were inapproraiate.

What the hell was he thinking?

[Booster]

20. Totally agree. He would scared the shit out of me.

[littlewolf]

54. +1 same thought nt

[deaniac21]

6. That's

racist

[joshcryer]

7. No, having your personal space invaded by someone and being offended...

...does not make you a homophobe. This reporter apparently uses that as his shtick. He probably gets more people pushing him away than being responsive.

[ForgoTheConsequence]

8. No.

An unwanted kiss is assault.

[morningfog]

9. Seems like it. He was uncomfortable with the hug.

He went over the top from there.

[ForgoTheConsequence]

11. Ok.

So if a man walks up to a female and attempts to kiss her and she doesn't accept it then she's heterophobic?

[morningfog]

14. Context matters.

A man did not just walk up to him and kiss him. It was a gesture of welcoming from someone from a different culture. I don't know if Will is a homophobe, but he certainly seems a prude, xenophobe or just full of himself.

[ForgoTheConsequence]

18. Except.....

It has nothing to do with a different "culture". This guy is a notorious prankster that does stuff like this to evoke a response, that's the "context".

[morningfog]

19. I can just say, I wouldn't react that way.

Kisses on the cheek are not a big deal. What is this, 4th grade?

[Cave_Johnson]

24. That's you...

Some of us prefer our space... Doesn't make us bigoted.

[morningfog]

25. Maybe just old-fashioned and prudish?

A peck on the cheek would cause you to jerk back, say "what the hell is wrong with you" and slap the guy? Then say he's lucky you didn't sucker punch him. It all seems to be an over reaction to nothing.

[Lilyeye]

34. Sorry, but that is not the case for all.

I am far from being traditional and prudish, but I would not want some random stranger kissing me. Please stop judging people by your standards and opinions.

[LiberalAndProud]

42. "amorous interview methods" -- I don't think we're talking about a mere peck on the cheek.

TMZ notes the reporter's amorous interview methods are all part of his "shtick."

[joshcryer]

30. It wasn't kisses on the cheek, he was going for lip kissing.

[cali]

51. You mean they're not a big deal to YOU

gee, hate to break this to you, but not everyone feels the same way about everything.

[vaberella]

46. False. I live in France and that's what they do. I FUCKIN' HATE IT!

I do not believe I am a xenophobe. And actually most of us Americans are the ones to put our hands out in a handshake. When people come up to close we take a step back. I remember my first year here...people were like, that's a very American thing to do and got a kick out of trying to enter my personal space.

[Laughing Mirror]

65. It is common practice in France to "faire la bise" on both cheeks

Nobody thinks anything of it, of course. It's just a way of saying hello between friends. It is an unconscious and automatic gesture, like a handshake between friends would be to an American.

Living in France, I wonder why you haven't adapted to this extremely commonplace practice yet. Your French friends must have taken it as strange, your pulling back from their innocent attempts to be welcoming to you.

[vaberella]

70. They got over it. They remembered I'm the American.

I've been here 3 years and never got into it. I know what it is and I know all about it. I happen to be Haitian, and Haitian's do the same thing. My family does it and I hated when they did it. I should have been used to it with them, long before I ever moved to France. It irritates me to no end. I find it uncomfortable. I've told them that many times. They take no offense. I'm okay with a hug, when I know you and of course hand shaking. But the kissing on the cheek...I can't do it.

[Laughing Mirror]

78. Oh, so it's a violation of your personal space then

In my many years in Paris, I have only encountered one man (a visiting American) and one woman (a visiting Australian) who made it plain at being introduced to my friends that they did not go for the "faire la bise" thing. So it is a peculiarity I could respect, even though I admit at first it seemed off-putting to me. I'd heard of people who didn't like their space violated in that way, just hadn't met any before.

At any rate, if you ever come over to my house for dinner, I'll try to remember to extend my welcome to you with a hug, and not with a bise. You may feel free to set me straight if I forget!

[Liberal_in_LA]

76. lol

[zappaman]

10. Ummmm

I work in Hollywood and know many who have worked with him.
I'll just say there is more here than meets the eye...

[Jazzgirl]

13. What does that mean?

N/T

[vaberella]

71. Probably the rumor that Will Smith is bisexual.

~sigh~

[obamanut2012]

32. Yup, a friend in the business

Told me the same, about him and Jada.

[vaberella]

47. Whatever. Until you are with a person on a daily basis you have no room to judge.

I don't go by rumors. It's like those Repubs who are like, Obama is a gay, rumor has it he was with such and such at such and such time that can vouch for it. Really now?

[PragmaticLiberal]

58. I know what you're referring to and I've heard the same thing.

Not that it matters.

[peace pilgrim 19]

68. LOL

[justiceischeap]

12. He just recently supported Obama's announcement on supporting marriage equality

I doubt someone who supports marriage equality is homophobic.

If someone entered my bubble and tried to kiss me without permission, I'd be upset too.

[Nye Bevan]

15. YES. Any man who reacts with any negativity to an unwanted kiss from another man

is clearly a disgusting, bigoted homophobe.

And if the guy who kissed him happened to be Jewish, that makes Smith an anti-Semite too.

[cherokeeprogressive]

37. What if the Jewish guy had one leg?

Fucking AntiSemiLegophobe...

I hate people like that.

[XemaSab]

17. If it was a woman

and some dude grabbed her and kissed her against her wishes, we wouldn't be asking if she had a problem with men.

[richmwill]

27. Bingo- That's my point in this.

Will Smith can get accused of homophobia for not being receptive of a kiss from a man. Now, imagine Angelina Jolie walking down the carpet at a movie premiere. A strange man runs up to her, presses himself against her, and forces his lips on her. Even if it was "on the cheek", oh I would imagine a much different reaction from those questioning Will Smith on this.

[etherealtruth]

52. Seriously

The guy's (reporters) actions were designed to evoke a strong reaction ... he got it.

Almost 20 years ago a guy (total stranger) walked over to me as I finished pumping gas ... he reached out "grabbed me" and kissed me ... I was too shocked and horrified to react, but I believe smacking the guy would not have been out of line on my part. (I'm a woman)

[Liberal_in_LA]

77. yep

[Codeine]

22. He may just not like intimate physical contact from a stranger.

I personally find it extremely uncomfortable when people I don't know get all touch-happy on me.

Or he may be a raging homophobe. Not enough info here to tell.

[NYC_SKP]

23. Prolly not.

Don't know for sure. I wouldn't put that label on him for this occurrence.

[Comrade_McKenzie]

26. No, it is not homophobic for a hetero male to not like the non-consentual kiss of a man. nt

[mythology]

29. As a heterosexual man, I wouldn't want a non-consentual kiss from a man or a woman

I'm a big believer in personal space and generally don't like being touched by well, anybody. Which come to think of it, may be somewhat related to the fact that I'm perpetually single. :p

[pa28]

28. I would not draw that conclusion.

It seems to me he's being violated and he does not really care for it.

When you are interacting with people you don't really know have a little respect and start with a little distance.

[Capt. Obvious]

31. I remember a big deal made for his same sex movie kiss

Can't remember much about it (name of movie or plot or seeing it) but I remember it being big news at the time.

Was that Will Smith?

[UnrepentantLiberal]

41. Yes. And the kiss was simulated.

He said he wished he done it for real. That doesn't sound like a homophobe to me.

[Zanzoobar]

33. He got off lightly.

The nitwit in white was oozing on the cool dude. The cool dude let him off the hook with a backhand.

I can imagine 100 scenarios with 100 other actors which may have landed him on his back for the count.

[JI7]

35. Will Smith supports Gay Rights, and Didn't he play a Gay Character in some Movie ?

he probably just doesn't like people who doesn't know getting too close to him.

[vaberella]

48. Yes he did play a gay role.

But there was nothing physical between him and any other character in the film, trick of the camera to make the kiss look real.

[RZM]

50. That was actually his breakout film role in 1993

In the screen adaptation of the play 'Six Degrees of Separation.' I remember reading a really bad review of it so I never saw it

[kestrel91316]

36. Will Smith is a Scientologist. IIRC they really don't like gays.

[Ter]

40. Tell that to John Travolta and Tom Cruise

n/t

[kestrel91316]

49. Oh, I know all about that story and have some inside corroboration, lol.

And I think Scientology keeps those two in line by a little blackmail.

"Keep giving us LOTS of money and promoting us or we tell your little secret."

[Orangepeel]

44. Wikipedia says he denies that

He has denied having joined the Church of Scientology, saying "I am a Christian. I am a student of all religions, and I respect all people and all paths."

But also

Smith and his wife have also founded a private elementary school in Calabasas, California, the New Village Leadership Academy, which uses Study Technology, a teaching methodology developed by L. Ron Hubbard, the founder of Scientology.

And

He has expressed support for same-sex marriage rights for gay couples.

[Akoto]

38. I think it's unfair to judge under these circumstances.

Whether you are gay or straight, there is such a thing as personal space, and it should be respected. Smith accepted the hug, but he was probably startled by what he thought was a kiss -- what most of us consider to be an intimate gesture. We each have comfort zones, and this reporter violated his.

That aside, as someone has already mentioned, Smith openly supported President Obama's marriage equality statement. I doubt a homophobic bigot would do that.

[Ter]

39. Now it's homophobic to not want to get kissed by a man?

I really can't anymore.

[JI7]

43. i just saw the video and it wasn't that bad, Smith was happy with hugging the guy

but the guy was kind of aggressive in trying to kiss him on the mouth. and i hear he does that as part of some comedy thing. in the video smith looks ok with the hug and even kiss on the cheek. but it was the guy trying to move to the mouth where he got upset. and his response wasn't that bad.

[vaberella]

45. No. I do not believe that's homophobic. I get really weird in France when they do that.

I hate when people give two cheek kisses that come close to my face. That has nothing to do with homophobia. It has to do with personal space and people entering that space. I don't even let my parents kiss me on the lips, let alone strange man or a female come near me like that.

[randome]

53. Who gives a shit what Will Smith thinks?

Maybe because his new movie is being released? Big deal.

[treestar]

55. No. Men don't routinely kiss in our society

The reporter over did the affection.

[IDemo]

56. Personal space is a fundamental part of any self defense school.

If someone wants to enter your personal space, it's perfectly reasonable that they do it only when you're agreeable.
Not welcoming any and all into close contact does not make one a bigot or homophobe.

[cynatnite]

57. If Will Smith had been a woman...

I don't think anyone would question this one bit.

It seemed to me that Will Smith went along with it in the beginning, but then the guy kept going and wouldn't stop. I don't know if he deserved the half-hearted slap, but that reporter went over the line nonetheless.

[The Midway Rebel]

59. The dude was Russian.

Will Smith was IN Moscow, Russia. I understand that men do that kiss on each cheek thing in Russia. To me, that kiss on each cheek thing was what the Russian news reporter was attempting to give to Will Smith and it got physcially awkward and the the Russian reporter dude almost caught will on the lips with a kiss. It was accidental IMHO. Will freaked out and back handed the dude. In my view, the slap was uncalled for as were his threatening comments afterward. Mr. Cool ain't so fuckin' cool afterall.

[Laughing Mirror]

74. As many times as Will Smith has been in Europe

it would seem he would have observed or even encountered the cheek kissing before.

But perhaps such a greeting had never been extended to him before and he found it offensive when it was. I have seen this before. I have seen straight American men who come to Europe who have a reaction similar to Will Smith's. They'll hug another man, pat each other on the back, but they are not so hot on two men brushing cheeks, which is the European equivalent to the American gesture of hugging and patting on the back.

[The Midway Rebel]

82. It is interesting to me that the consensus in this thread is suggests...

that it is perfectly proper to respond to an overly friendly gesture with physical violence and threats. Straight, bi, or gay; I think Will's response and the subsequent apparent approval of his behavior by the majority on this thread says something about the character of Americans in general.

[ellie]

60. Actually, I heard he was bisexual.

[Dash87]

61. It was a justified reaction, imo

If a stranger walked up to you and tried to kiss you on the lips, wouldn't you push them away? Apparently this guy does it to all celebrities to try and get attention. It says so at the link.

It doesn't matter if it's a woman or man - most people would not let a stranger try to kiss them.

[Honeycombe8]

62. No. It could be considered assault to forcibly kiss someone w/o consent. nt

[Enrique]

63. Celebrities are supposed to let reporters do whatever they want at these events

[cherokeeprogressive]

64. Nnnnnnnope

[peace pilgrim 19]

66. If Will Smith was Willamina Smith

and some random dude planted a kiss on HER cheek, most of you would be defending her to the nth degree.

I am quickly growing weary of GLBTQLMNOP hyperventillating for every imagined slight. Stop it! Focus on real issues and stop force-feeding people your private bizness!

[Brickbat]

67. Pushing off unwanted affection is not necessarily homophobic.

[Pisces]

69. A woman would have slapped a strange man trying to kiss her, what is wrong with Will reacting?

He is in a greeting line. He may have just pushed the guy, but I think it was a quick reaction that he did not think about. I can not
imagine being a star and feeling like my fans could grope and grab me when they want. They don't own you.

[Marrah_G]

72. Thats the reaction I would have if a stranger of either sex did that to me

[gulliver]

73. Smith handled it perfectly, imo.

If he had decked the guy that would have been overreacting. But you do need to defend yourself. There is a subtle negotiation to a kiss. (Disclosure: I learned everything I know about it from "Hitch".) The guy in the footage was trying to take a kiss. If he had smiled and given Smith a chance to think about it, he might have gotten a kiss or he might not. Trying to take one against Smith's will was uncool. If Smith hadn't reacted with something defensive and equivalent, Smith would have been victimized. Instead, Smith found a good balance, imo.

[Bluenorthwest]

75. No, Will is not a homophobe. Not at all.

You do not kiss a gentleman without permission, and Will is a gentleman. Nuff said.

[Prism]

79. Nope.

That was a personal space issue. Given Will's a celebrity, you never know what or who could be waiting in a crowd. It was a perfectly understandable reaction, IMO. Everything I've read about him points to him being a good egg.

[Liberal_in_LA]

80. the perfect smilie for this thread

[underseasurveyor]

81. Oh good grief no.

If any stranger, male or female, grabbed me like that and tried to kiss me? That guy is lucky that Will only tapped him on the cheek. I don't think I would have been so gentle.