MANY people, including myself, were taken aback with the trending news involving Will Smith and Chris Rock during the recent Oscars Awarding night held on Sunday night. From the videos posted online, Will Smith slapped Chris Rock after the latter delivered a punch line directed against Jada Pinkett Smith. From the opposite perspective, Jada Smith was seen to have made a face after the said comment, which is believed to have prompted her husband Will Smith to take action against the host.
At first, I thought it was just a gimmick to boost the show, but it turns out that it indeed happened spontaneously in a live TV airing. While I may have sympathetic opinions for Jada's plight regarding her mental condition, I do have something to say about the "unbecoming" behavior of Will Smith on the incident. If it were me (either Jada or Will), I could have let it passed just like an ordinary joke and would have probably gotten more empathy from people for being understanding despite suffering an illness or condition such as alopecia.
I hope people will not get me wrong as to not being able to understand the situation of people undergoing some emotional and mental stresses that may cause hair loss because believe it or not, my brother previously suffered alopecia years ago. I can vouch the fact that some people who may become insensitive may not fully understand the situation and feeling of having to lose your hair unwillingly.
But I would have to give my reaction on the aspect of being able to manage our emotions especially in highly stressful or disturbing situations such as hearing tactless comments or jokes that may hurt or affect someone. In the case of Will Smith, who was one of the biggest celebrities attending one of the major events in the entertainment industry should have known better -- that is to apply self-restraint.
In my personal opinion, both are in the wrong. Chris Rock is wrong in taking Jada's condition on a laughing act, and Will Smith is wrong for having to physically assault someone because of hearing a joke. Let us admit it or not but being Hollywood celebrities somehow robs them of that privacy and privilege to keep to themselves whatever it is that they are going through physically, emotionally, and mentally.
So for me, it would have been better for the Smiths to have shrugged the joke off and move on. However, I would like to take this incident as a reminder as well to all who are making often thoughtless and insensitive remarks dealing with mental and emotional disturbances that some people go through. It is not right as well to make fun of them and what they are going through.