"The Slap"

Regardless of who keeps up with social media in this age, everyone has likely heard of “The Slap” – and not the one on Nickelodeon’s hit TV show, “Victorious.” During the Academy Awards on Sunday, March 27, Will Smith shook the internet almost as hard as Chris Rock’s jaw. After a poorly timed “joke” made by Rock about Jada Pinkett Smith’s resemblance to the bald character in the movie “G.I Jane” due to her alopecia, Smith rose from his seat, stormed onto the stage and gave the presenter a hearty slap across the face. He then proceeded to reclaim his seat in the front row of the audience, yelling some very vulgar words at Rock to not speak about his wife in such a way. 

Emotions ran high that evening, and audiences around the world had different reactions about the situation. For someone that originally chuckled a bit, Smith’s reaction was perceived as incredibly irrational by many viewers. After glancing at his wife’s upset expression, he then put on a big display. Many people believed that he had no right to do so after laughing at the joke himself. The lack of reaction from security and officials of the award show raised concerns on social media, as users argued that Hollywood is allowing and congratulating violent behavior by not only allowing Smith to stay in the building but also still handing him an award. Many celebrities voiced their opinions on the situation – Amy Schumer even claimed to be “triggered and traumatized” by the incident. Catherine Shoard from The Guardian noted plenty of other negative responses towards Smith from other celebrities like Wanda Skyes, Ellen DeGeneres and Jim Carrey. 

Many others believe that Rock got what he deserved, even if it meant public shaming on international television. Regardless of everyone’s opinions, on all technicalities, Rock’s joke was insensitive (assuming he had prior knowledge of Pinkett Smith’s condition), and Smith did, in fact, assault him because of it. As of right now, Rock has chosen not to file any charges against him, but the Oscars committee has decided to start an official investigation of the situation due to backlash from viewers around the world.

Recently, reports of attempts to remove Smith from the show have been released. NBC News claimed that officials at the Oscars were prepared to arrest Smith, but he had refused when asked to leave the show. This may explain why a full investigation has been started surrounding the situation, with the Oscars announcing that Smith would receive adequate punishment. There is still a large audience advocating for Smith’s actions, saying that Rock’s “joke” was out of line and that he knew about Pinkett Smith’s condition. However, the question as to whether Smith should be punished is not up to the public, and conduct codes still apply. While I cannot say for sure who was in the wrong that night, I do believe that Smith’s actions were uncalled for and a bit outlandish for such a prestigious event.