In his apology, Smith acknowledged that as a celebrity, "Jokes at my expense are a part of the job," but said that "a joke about Jada's medical condition was too much for me to bear and I reacted emotionally." March 29, 2022ĭennis also writes that being a truly "dangerous" or fearless comedian "requires aiming jokes at entities that are more powerful than the comedian." Oftentimes these people can't even be in the room when Rock is making these jokes." -David Dennis Jr. But there's also a simple fact: Sometimes comedians just get slapped." He argues that it is non-famous comedians, often those who are queer and/or Black women are at a greater risk for violence.ĭennis added that "when Rock insults poor Black folks and Black women, he's insulting people who often aren't in any position to do anything about what he says about them. "There were enough thoughts on race, power, and gender to teach a semester-long class. "This one incident has prompted as many takes, opinions, and projections than we've seen from a pop culture moment in ages," he wrote.
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took a different tone writing last week that "punch down comedians," like Rock, who has belittled poor Black people and Black women in his work, often don't face violence. And, while Lee says that "all violence is wrong," Lee maintains that words have consequences in the real world - even for comedians.ĭavid Dennis Jr.
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Lee argues that Rock was "discursively violent" to Pinkett Smith - meaning he used his words to put down or provoke Pinkett Smith - which then led to Smith being physically violent towards Rock. Smith, Pinkett Smith's husband, then stormed the stage and smacked Rock - adding to an ongoing discussion of how comedians use their words.īlack women and their identities are closely tied to their hair, and as Insider's Taylor Ardrey previously reported, the joke did not land for many Black women, especially since Black hair has a history of being criticized and politicized. Rock told a live audience and viewers worldwide that he couldn't wait to see "G.I Jane 2," referencing Pinkett Smith's bald head - the result of a medical condition she has discussed publically since 2018.
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The incident has led to a larger discussion around the violence behind words - and the difference between good comedy and being cruel.įor educator and content creator George Lee, Smith embodied the "fuck around and find out" mindset at the Oscars when he slapped Rock for making a joke about Pinkett Smith's hair. The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences was quick to condemn Smith, who in turn issued several apologies for his actions and resigned from the academy. Actor Will Smith slapped comedian Chris Rock at the Oscars following a joke at the expense of Smith's wife, Jada Pinkett Smith, sending viewers, fans, and social media users into a whirlwind of commentary.