# So Will Smith punched Chris Rock at the Oscars last night **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** comedian-jokes, talk-variety-show\ **Created:** [March 28, 2022, 8:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-will-smith-punched-chris-rock-at-the-oscars-last-night/961826 "2022-03-28T08:32:37Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 8
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2022, 6:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-will-smith-punched-chris-rock-at-the-oscars-last-night/961826/141 "2022-03-28T18:34:57Z")
> [@Tired\_and\_Cranky](#): > > The slap seemed more likely intended to convey displeasure than to cause physical harm. IMO, that’s a completely unreasonable takeaway from someone walking up onstage and slapping a performer. ---
**Author:** ![Rilchiam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/2bfe46/32.png) [@Rilchiam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rilchiam)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2022, 6:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-will-smith-punched-chris-rock-at-the-oscars-last-night/961826/142 "2022-03-28T18:37:04Z")
> [@DSeid](#): > > Can you imagine what would have happened if a second tier actor assaulted a presenter because they were offended by a joke made? If this was a stand up club and an audience member did that??? [Yeah, man.](https://www.theguardian.com/world/2006/nov/22/usa.danglaister) ---
**Author:** ![Cardigan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cardigan/32/187_2.png) [@Cardigan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cardigan)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2022, 6:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-will-smith-punched-chris-rock-at-the-oscars-last-night/961826/143 "2022-03-28T18:39:32Z")
Was it scripted or planned? Very doubtful. Was Will Smith ‘performing’? Absolutely. ---
**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2022, 6:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-will-smith-punched-chris-rock-at-the-oscars-last-night/961826/144 "2022-03-28T18:50:29Z")
> [@Rilchiam](#): > > Also, reportedly Jada gave her husband a “You better!” look, after he initially laughed at “G.I. Jane”, which he obeyed by going up on stage. Girls of the world ain’t nothing but trouble. ---
**Author:** ![Tired\_and\_Cranky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a87d85/32.png) [@Tired\_and\_Cranky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tired_and_Cranky)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2022, 6:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-will-smith-punched-chris-rock-at-the-oscars-last-night/961826/145 "2022-03-28T18:52:48Z")
> [@orcenio](#): > > This is bordering on obtuse. I’m not sure I want to argue how striking Rock midsession in the Oscars and angerly demanding he not invoke Jada’s name isn’t a threat of more severe force. I concede it could be a threat of more severe force. I just don’t foreclose other possibilities. > [@Telemark](#): > > IMO, that’s a completely unreasonable takeaway from someone walking up onstage and slapping a performer. And yet, there is no evidence Mr. Rock was physically harmed. ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2022, 6:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-will-smith-punched-chris-rock-at-the-oscars-last-night/961826/146 "2022-03-28T18:58:02Z")
Some years back I mentioned a co-worker who lights to emphasize points with me by lightly punching me on the arm–and another poster decided it was assault, and no matter what I explained about how “punch” in this context carried no pain whatsoever and no hostility, he thought I should be reporting her to HR for assault. Yikes. This was way more than that light punch. But it was also non-injurious, and Chris probably felt nothing more than a light tingling on the cheek within two minutes. Legally of course we have to protect speech in a way that we don’t protect violence, not even non-injurious slaps. But morally? I think Chris’s shitty joke probably was worse than Will’s slap was. Public emotional humiliation based on looks is going to sting for a lot longer than a slapped cheek. Equating a single non-injurious slap with domestic violence is in my opinion a real stretch. ---
**Author:** ![Ranch\_Dip](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ranch_dip/32/5238_2.png) [@Ranch\_Dip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ranch_Dip)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2022, 7:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-will-smith-punched-chris-rock-at-the-oscars-last-night/961826/147 "2022-03-28T19:02:53Z")
The bitch-slap heard around the world. Unpopular opinion, I totally support Will on this. Who makes fun of another person’s medical issues? ---
**Author:** ![Cheesesteak](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cheesesteak/32/3694_2.png) [@Cheesesteak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cheesesteak)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2022, 7:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-will-smith-punched-chris-rock-at-the-oscars-last-night/961826/148 "2022-03-28T19:07:00Z")
> [@Thudlow\_Boink](#): > > How so? People have suffered consequences up to and including the ending of their careers over insensitive public remarks and tasteless jokes. Fair enough, let’s say he was secure in the **belief** that he could humiliate her with no consequences. ---
**Author:** ![WOOKINPANUBv.2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wookinpanubv.2/32/3260_2.png) [@WOOKINPANUBv.2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WOOKINPANUBv.2)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2022, 7:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-will-smith-punched-chris-rock-at-the-oscars-last-night/961826/149 "2022-03-28T19:10:09Z")
Do we know if he was aware of the medical condition? I certainly couldn’t tell by looking at her and I sure as hell have never followed her appearances on talk shows or her tweets. Not that it justifies Smith’s actions; nothing does. I’ve always liked Will Smith, in spite of his bitch wife and entitled brat kids. Now he can join them on the dump heap. ---
**Author:** ![CoolHandCox](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/coolhandcox/32/16233_2.png) [@CoolHandCox](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CoolHandCox)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2022, 7:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-will-smith-punched-chris-rock-at-the-oscars-last-night/961826/150 "2022-03-28T19:16:10Z")
A comedian. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Librarian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_librarian/32/402_2.png) [@The\_Librarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Librarian)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2022, 7:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-will-smith-punched-chris-rock-at-the-oscars-last-night/961826/151 "2022-03-28T19:20:15Z")
How many of “the Academy” walked out? Spineless bootlickers. Freshly crawled out of Weinstein’s ass looking for a new daddy. Bonus points if they twattered something self-congratulatory about Ukraine while their deeds clearly show that they believe that might makes right. ---
**Author:** ![Machine\_Elf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/82dd89/32.png) [@Machine\_Elf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Machine_Elf)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2022, 7:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-will-smith-punched-chris-rock-at-the-oscars-last-night/961826/152 "2022-03-28T19:35:48Z")
> [@Tired\_and\_Cranky](#): > > The slap seemed more likely intended to convey displeasure than to cause physical harm. You really don’t think that slap hurt, or that Smith knew it would hurt? > **[Why Slapping Someone Is Considered Assault | Kaufman, Nichols, & Kaufman,...](https://www.knklawfirm.com/slapping-someone-is-considered-assault/)** > > If you are a fan of movies, you likely have seen a scene in which a young couple is in a lover’s quarrel and the female character gets fed up with the conversation or the young man says something she doesn’t like, and she slaps him across the face.... > Slapping someone involves the physical contact of hitting your hand across another person’s face or other part of their body. The physical contact itself makes the act assault, but it would most certainly be considered assault if there was force in the slap. ---
**Author:** ![Cheesesteak](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cheesesteak/32/3694_2.png) [@Cheesesteak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cheesesteak)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2022, 7:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-will-smith-punched-chris-rock-at-the-oscars-last-night/961826/153 "2022-03-28T19:36:45Z")
> [@WOOKINPANUBv.2](#): > > Do we know if he was aware of the medical condition? If you’re going to make a joke about someone in front of millions of people, you have a responsibility to be aware. It wasn’t a secret. ---
**Author:** ![DigitalC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ebca7d/32.png) [@DigitalC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DigitalC)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2022, 7:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-will-smith-punched-chris-rock-at-the-oscars-last-night/961826/154 "2022-03-28T19:38:34Z")
> [@DavidNRockies](#): > > … and … > > [https://www.nme.com/news/music/janet-jacksons-super-bowl-stylist-denies-wardrobe-malfunction-at-justin-timberlake-show-3103967](https://www.nme.com/news/music/janet-jacksons-super-bowl-stylist-denies-wardrobe-malfunction-at-justin-timberlake-show-3103967) > > So … who knows … Nobody EVER believed there was a wardrobe malfunction. ---
**Author:** ![WOOKINPANUBv.2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wookinpanubv.2/32/3260_2.png) [@WOOKINPANUBv.2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WOOKINPANUBv.2)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2022, 7:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-will-smith-punched-chris-rock-at-the-oscars-last-night/961826/155 "2022-03-28T19:43:06Z")
> [@Cheesesteak](#): > > If you’re going to make a joke about someone in front of millions of people, you have a responsibility to be aware. It wasn’t a secret. How on earth does that work? Hollywood celebrities show up in all manner of odd dress and hair. He’s supposed to check over everyone’s personal dossier before he makes a joke? There’s a very big area between something being a secret and common knowledge. ---
**Author:** ![msmith537](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d9b06d/32.png) [@msmith537](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/msmith537)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2022, 7:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-will-smith-punched-chris-rock-at-the-oscars-last-night/961826/156 "2022-03-28T19:44:10Z")
> [@Odesio](#): > > > [@msmith537](#): > > > > It sort of begs the question, if Will Smith is the sort of person who would run onstage to strike a comedian because he doesn’t like a joke about his wife, are we to also believe he wouldn’t slap Jada Smith if provoked on a particularly bad day? > > It doesn’t beg any such question from me. I don’t think of myself as a violent person as I’m more prone to de-escalate a situation than I am to escalate it, but even my buttons can be pushed. Early in my marriage, Mrs. Odesio and I were car shopping in Little Rock and at the first dealer we went to she would ask the sales associate a question and instead of answering her he would look at me and answer the question. I was bemused by this at first but as this continued I could see that my wife was hurt and angry. No, I didn’t respond by slugging the salesman in his face. But I invaded his space, got right in his face, and raised my voice telling him that when she asked him a question he needed to answer her and not _me._ I’m sure I didn’t leave a positive impression with the other customers who probably only saw a crazy person. I’m not following your point. “I don’t consider myself a violent person but here is this time when I acted like a complete lunatic over something unreasonable?” Like, I get it. I’m sure most of us have been in situations where we could have done a) to deescalate a situation or b) to maybe push the envelope a bit and have chosen b). Because on some level, option b) feels good. But it’s usually not the right option and can usually get you in trouble. ---
**Author:** ![Procrustus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/procrustus/32/2994_2.png) [@Procrustus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Procrustus)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2022, 7:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-will-smith-punched-chris-rock-at-the-oscars-last-night/961826/157 "2022-03-28T19:44:35Z")
> [@Ranch\_Dip](#): > > Unpopular opinion, I totally support Will on this. Who makes fun of another person’s medical issues? Do offensive jokes give someone justification to resort to violence? I’ve been offended a fair number of times, but I have never struck another person for any reason. ---
**Author:** ![ISiddiqui](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/97f17d/32.png) [@ISiddiqui](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ISiddiqui)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2022, 7:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-will-smith-punched-chris-rock-at-the-oscars-last-night/961826/158 "2022-03-28T19:50:21Z")
> [@msmith537](#): > > I’m not following your point. “I don’t consider myself a violent person but here is this time when I acted like a complete lunatic over something unreasonable?” Say wha? They responded exactly how I’d hope people would respond to someone who is acting completely misogynistic. Not calling out that shameful display is worse that just letting it go, IMO. It just allows the salesman to get away with it. ---
**Author:** ![Odesio](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/odesio/32/20003_2.png) [@Odesio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Odesio)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2022, 7:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-will-smith-punched-chris-rock-at-the-oscars-last-night/961826/159 "2022-03-28T19:53:07Z")
> [@msmith537](#): > > I’m not following your point. “I don’t consider myself a violent person but here is this time when I acted like a complete lunatic over something unreasonable?” I didn’t think I was acting like a lunatic. He pissed me off and I let him know using body language, the inflection of my voice, and my choice of words without resorting to violence. > [@msmith537](#): > > Like, I get it. I’m sure most of us have been in situations where we could have done a) to deescalate a situation or b) to maybe push the envelope a bit and have chosen b). Because on some level, option b) feels good. But it’s usually not the right option and can usually get you in trouble. I’m not going to argue with you there. Punching someone in the face usually isn’t the best option. ---
**Author:** ![Eyebrows\_0f\_Doom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eyebrows_0f_doom/32/3119_2.png) [@Eyebrows\_0f\_Doom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eyebrows_0f_Doom)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2022, 8:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-will-smith-punched-chris-rock-at-the-oscars-last-night/961826/160 "2022-03-28T20:02:18Z")
> **[Oscars Launch Formal Review of Will Smith After Chris Rock Slap](https://variety.com/2022/film/news/oscars-will-smith-chris-rock-slap-formal-review-discipline-1235217214/)** > > Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences condemns Will Smith for Chris Rock assault, launches formal review and weighs disciplinary action. > “The Academy condemns the actions of Mr. Smith at last night’s show,” a spokesperson for the organization said. “We have officially started a formal review around the incident and will explore further action and consequences in accordance with our Bylaws, Standards of Conduct and California law.” [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-will-smith-punched-chris-rock-at-the-oscars-last-night/961826.md?page=7) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-will-smith-punched-chris-rock-at-the-oscars-last-night/961826.md?page=9)