Thursday, March 31, 2022

Ben Shapiro: The Slap Heard 'Round the World

This week, Will Smith -- perhaps the most bankable star of his generation -- won an Oscar for Best Actor for "King Richard." But that wasn't why he made headlines. He made headlines because during the Academy Awards ceremony, comedian Chris Rock told a joke about Smith's wife, Jada Pinkett Smith. Jada, it seems, suffers from alopecia; Rock, presumably not knowing about her condition, made a joke about her starring in "G.I. Jane 2," a nod to her closely shaven head. Initially, Will Smith laughed. Then he glanced around and saw Jada was upset. 

At which point he got up, strode to the stage, and proceeded to slap Rock directly across the face.

Then he sat down again.

Rock, for his part, tried to play off the situation as a joke. But Will Smith wasn't letting it go. Instead, he began screaming at Rock: "Keep my wife's name out ya f---ing mouth!" Rock replied, "Wow, dude, it was a 'G.I. Jane' joke." To which Smith repeated, screaming, "Keep my wife's name out ya f---ing mouth!" Which, presumably, would make Rock the first man to whom Smith had ever uttered such a sentiment, given the couple's stated dedication to their open marriage.

Suffice it to say, it was perhaps the oddest incident in nationally televised history. The only rivals might have been Justin Timberlake ripping off Janet Jackson's top to reveal a pasty at the Super Bowl XXXVIII halftime show, or the live OJ Simpson car chase during the NBA Finals. But this event was even odder, given the utterly sudden nature of the assault. Rock, after all, was hired to lightly roast actors. Will Smith was there to pick up his first Oscar. And the whole thing devolved into actual violence.

It's easy to brush off the event as yet another disposably silly celebrity moment. It would be easier if Rep. Ayanna Pressley, D-Mass., hadn't immediately tweeted (and then deleted), "Thank you #WillSmith Shout out to all the husbands who defend their wives living with alopecia in the face of daily ignorance & insults." Or if Rep. Jamaal Bowman, D-N.Y., hadn't tweeted, "Teachable Moment: Don't joke about a Black Woman's hair." Or if the entire Academy Awards audience hadn't given Smith a standing ovation a few moments later. Or if there hadn't been widespread support for Smith's slap online, thanks to the now-common belief that verbal insults constitute a form of violence to which violence is an acceptable -- indeed, commendable -- response.

The social compact by which verbiage and violence remain strictly separated is a delicate one. For most of human history, words were treated as punishable by physical response -- dueling was commonplace in societies for centuries, familial retaliation for insult was regular, and wars were even fought over verbal slights. But over time, civilized people traded away the privilege of personal use of force in favor of rules; truly offensive words could sometimes meet with social disapproval or even ostracization, but certainly not violence.

Now we seem to be reversing the trend. The entire theory of "microaggressions" suggests that if you are offended, it is because someone has "aggressed" against you -- and aggression requires response. To deny someone's preferred pronouns is now an act of "erasure" amounting to violence, since the person so slighted might feel damaged in their sense of worth or authenticity. Once we reconnect the severed link between words and violence, civilization will begin to break down.

We can hope that Will Smith's slap remains an aberration; a country in which comedians are regularly assaulted for making jokes will soon be a rather humorless place. But unless Americans are willing to reestablish the hard barrier between words and violence, we will become a far more silent and far more violent nation.

Ben Shapiro, 38, is a graduate of UCLA and Harvard Law School, host of "The Ben Shapiro Show," and editor-in-chief of DailyWire.com. He is the author of the New York Times bestsellers "How To Destroy America In Three Easy Steps," "The Right Side Of History," and "Bullies." To find out more about Ben Shapiro and read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate website at www.creators.com.

COPYRIGHT 2022 CREATORS 

31 comments:

Anonymous said...

If Will Smith was a real man, he would not have bitch slapped Rock. He would have closed his fist and cold cocked him with a sucker punch. What a p***y.

Anonymous said...

Excellent. Reason #999 why I don't watch the Oscars, Emmys, etc., nor patronize contemporary movies.

Anonymous said...

Looks like Jackson violence is spilling over to Hollywood.

Anonymous said...

Can you imagine what Rock would have said if she had on a Maxine Waters/James Brown wig ?

Anonymous said...

They are both Scientologists, so I wonder how how this will negatively affect their Operating Thetan (OT) level?

Anonymous said...

Just for assuming that we care what the Hollyweirds do is a slap in the face.

Anonymous said...

Once again the aftermath is really all about WHO, not WHAT. If Will Smith were someone else not as rich, not as famous, not as black, he would be immediately ejected from the scene and criminally charged with assault and battery. But our society has devolved into a bizarre fiasco where all principles and values are relative depending on WHO they are being applied to.
Will Smith is a privileged bona fide resident of this society and he merely exercised his rights to be an idiot. He is well within his rights. I think his acceptance speech made it clear.

Anonymous said...

I’m just happy we now have a Hollywood precedent that will allow other stars to slap the $&%* out of Amy Shumer, Trevor Noah or any other “comedian” who makes a joke that hurts someone’s feelings.

Will Smith is too big to fail and therefore a protected celeb that they were unable to cancel with out internal conflict due in part to him being a minority…se we have come full circle and even they agree that violence is indeed the answer!

Just apologize after and all must be forgiven.

I’d pay a small fee to watch Stern interview Rogan now that we agree slapping is ok.

Anonymous said...

Generations were raised on "Sticks and stones can break my bones, but words will never hurt me." They suffered through so much we can't even imagine - and then fought and died in wars like men and women.

Today? They're all little bitches and brats who think they can use violence over the smallest verbal sleight....and they won't be lining up to defend anything or anyone ever. Tantrums and violence work in the modern age...so we will get a lot more of it, until it's slapped back down with God's justice.

Krusatyr said...

There's no hard line between ghetto and stage. Consider all the rappers who kill each other over some minor slight. Rock was solid as a rock, who other than Jesus could be composed after such an attack?

Anonymous said...

Will Smith: “Love will make you do crazy things”
Tina Turner: “ What’s love got to do, got to do with it?”

Anonymous said...

Lighten up Francis.

Anonymous said...

Imagine the list of charges if Jack Nicholson slapped Chris Rock like that.
He would go to jail, never be in another film, and get sued.
It’s a hell of a precedent to set - even if you cry on stage afterwards.
Right?

Anonymous said...

Will Smith’s slap had zero to do with micro aggressions or pronouns, you partisan hack.

For the good of the country, you should stop.

Anonymous said...

Will Smith was just doubling down on being a cuck. Just like Kanye.

Anonymous said...

As the great philosopher Will Smith opined:

Don't start nuthin
and there won't be nuthin

Anonymous said...

Half you clowns rushed to Google Alopecia. The other half? Well, it flew right between your ears.


This is nothing more, or less, than another one-week deflection from Biden's incompetence and the cess pool our country is in.

Anonymous said...

It was all staged to get people talking about he Oscars.
They are both actors and know how to fake a blow.
And it worked - You all fell for it.

Anonymous said...

Hollywood makes a maggot throw up 🤮!

Anonymous said...

6:29 I agree with you that Will Smith was putting on an act. But his audience was his crazy ass wife not us.

Anonymous said...

What does opine mean?

@6:49 PM

Anonymous said...

It was staged. It was just another "Wag the Dog" moment produced by Hollywood to deflect from how the Joe Xiden administration is destroying the once great America.

Anonymous said...

@8:17 AM and @8:38 AM - yes, very staged. When someone is going to be hit in the face that automatic response is to raise a hand to deflect the blow. Rock only turned his head, which is what actors do.

It's just more Hollyweird trying to be relevant. Oh, and there was a delay in the live coverage to bleep out potty mouthed Smith. How convenient.

Note: I didn't watch the program and haven't for decades, but have seen the clips.

Anonymous said...

"It was staged."

Why in the world would Will Smith agree to stage something that significantly harms his brand and earning potential?

Anonymous said...

Will is bish! Chris probably had dinner at the”Red Table” back in the day. “She’s a very kinky girl.” - Rick James

Anonymous said...

This was staged goofballs ! And it's not a first ! Jerry Lawler /Andy Kaufman. These two worked the hell out of ya'll. Not me.

Anonymous said...

9:31 : You are kidding ? The room gave him a standing ovation ! Chris Rock ticket sales went thru the roof ! IT WAS STAGED.

Anonymous said...

"Welkum too Earf"

Anonymous said...

When you open up your marriage to disrespect (ie: allow additional partners into your marriage) you have no ground to stand on.
Neither husband nor wife can can say "You didn't defend my honor." Their marriage had no honor.

Anonymous said...

@3:28 PM
Will Smith assaulted Chris Rock because he knew who to slap. That's all it boils down to.

Anonymous said...

@9:31 AM
Finally, a sign of intelligent life in the comment section. Only an imbecile would believe the assault was staged.


Recent Comments

Search Jackson Jambalaya

Subscribe to JJ's Youtube channel

Archives

Trollfest '09

Trollfest '07 was such a success that Jackson Jambalaya will once again host Trollfest '09. Catch this great event which will leave NE Jackson & Fondren in flames. Othor Cain and his band, The Black Power Structure headline the night while Sonjay Poontang returns for an encore performance. Former Frank Melton bodyguard Marcus Wright makes his premier appearance at Trollfest singing "I'm a Sweet Transvestite" from "The Rocky Horror Picture Show." Kamikaze will sing his new hit, “How I sold out to da Man.” Robbie Bell again performs: “Mamas, don't let your babies grow up to be Bells” and “Any friend of Ed Peters is a friend of mine”. After the show, Ms. Bell will autograph copies of her mug shot photos. In a salute to “Dancing with the Stars”, Ms. Bell and Hinds County District Attorney Robert Smith will dance the Wango Tango.

Wrestling returns, except this time it will be a Battle Royal with Othor Cain, Ben Allen, Kim Wade, Haley Fisackerly, Alan Lange, and “Big Cat” Donna Ladd all in the ring at the same time. The Battle Royal will be in a steel cage, no time limit, no referee, and the losers must leave town. Marshand Crisler will be the honorary referee (as it gives him a title without actually having to do anything).


Meet KIM Waaaaaade at the Entergy Tent. For five pesos, Kim will sell you a chance to win a deed to a crack house on Ridgeway Street stuffed in the Howard Industries pinata. Don't worry if the pinata is beaten to shreds, as Mr. Wade has Jose, Emmanuel, and Carlos, all illegal immigrants, available as replacements for the it. Upon leaving the Entergy tent, fig leaves will be available in case Entergy literally takes everything you have as part of its Trollfest ticket price adjustment charge.

Donna Ladd of The Jackson Free Press will give several classes on learning how to write. Smearing, writing without factchecking, and reporting only one side of a story will be covered. A donation to pay their taxes will be accepted and she will be signing copies of their former federal tax liens. Ms. Ladd will give a dramatic reading of her two award-winning essays (They received The Jackson Free Press "Best Of" awards.) "Why everything is always about me" and "Why I cover murders better than anyone else in Jackson".

In the spirit of helping those who are less fortunate, Trollfest '09 adopts a cause for which a portion of the proceeds and donations will be donated: Keeping Frank Melton in his home. The “Keep Frank Melton From Being Homeless” booth will sell chances for five dollars to pin the tail on the jackass. John Reeves has graciously volunteered to be the jackass for this honorable excursion into saving Frank's ass. What's an ass between two friends after all? If Mr. Reeves is unable to um, perform, Speaker Billy McCoy has also volunteered as when the word “jackass” was mentioned he immediately ran as fast as he could to sign up.


In order to help clean up the legal profession, Adam Kilgore of the Mississippi Bar will be giving away free, round-trip plane tickets to the North Pole where they keep their bar complaint forms (which are NOT available online). If you don't want to go to the North Pole, you can enjoy Brant Brantley's (of the Mississippi Commission on Judicial Performance) free guided tours of the quicksand field over by High Street where all complaints against judges disappear. If for some reason you are unable to control yourself, never fear; Judge Houston Patton will operate his jail where no lawyers are needed or allowed as you just sit there for minutes... hours.... months...years until he decides he is tired of you sitting in his jail. Do not think Judge Patton is a bad judge however as he plans to serve free Mad Dog 20/20 to all inmates.

Trollfest '09 is a pet-friendly event as well. Feel free to bring your dog with you and do not worry if your pet gets hungry, as employees of the Jackson Zoo will be on hand to provide some of their animals as food when it gets to be feeding time for your little loved one.

Relax at the Fox News Tent. Since there are only three blonde reporters in Jackson (being blonde is a requirement for working at Fox News), Megan and Kathryn from WAPT and Wendy from WLBT will be on loan to Fox. To gain admittance to the VIP section, bring either your Republican Party ID card or a Rebel Flag. Bringing both and a torn-up Obama yard sign will entitle you to free drinks served by Megan, Wendy, and Kathryn. Get your tickets now. Since this is an event for trolls, no ID is required. Just bring the hate. Bring the family, Trollfest '09 is for EVERYONE!!!

This is definitely a Beaver production.


Note: Security provided by INS.

Trollfest '07

Jackson Jambalaya is the home of Trollfest '07. Catch this great event which promises to leave NE Jackson & Fondren in flames. Sonjay Poontang and his band headline the night with a special steel cage, no time limit "loser must leave town" bout between Alan Lange and "Big Cat"Donna Ladd following afterwards. Kamikaze will perform his new song F*** Bush, he's still a _____. Did I mention there was no referee? Dr. Heddy Matthias and Lori Gregory will face off in the undercard dueling with dangling participles and other um, devices. Robbie Bell will perform Her two latest songs: My Best Friends are in the Media and Mama's, Don't Let Your Babies Grow up to be George Bell. Sid Salter of The Clarion-Ledger will host "Pin the Tail on the Trial Lawyer", sponsored by State Farm.

There will be a hugging booth where in exchange for your young son, Frank Melton will give you a loooong hug. Trollfest will have a dunking booth where Muhammed the terrorist will curse you to Allah as you try to hit a target that will drop him into a vat of pig grease. However, in the true spirit of Separate But Equal, Don Imus and someone from NE Jackson will also sit in the dunking booth for an equal amount of time. Tom Head will give a reading for two hours on why he can't figure out who the hell he is. Cliff Cargill will give lessons with his .80 caliber desert eagle, using Frank Melton photos as targets. Tackleberry will be on hand for an autograph session. KIM Waaaaaade will be passing out free titles and deeds to crackhouses formerly owned by The Wood Street Players.

If you get tired come relax at the Fox News Tent. To gain admittance to the VIP section, bring either your Republican Party ID card or a Rebel Flag. Bringing both will entitle you to free drinks.Get your tickets now. Since this is an event for trolls, no ID is required, just bring the hate. Bring the family, Trollfest '07 is for EVERYONE!!!

This is definitely a Beaver production.

Note: Security provided by INS
.