The 2022 Oscars: Of insults and slaps
29 March 2022 By Abiodun Giwa
Chris Rock and Will Smith at the 2022 Oscars. Photo (Courtesy: Los Angeles Times)
The video went viral with Oscar's signature. Will Smith walked across the stage and handed a dirty slap to Chris Rock, the umpire at the 2022 Oscars. Rock was stoic. Smith turned and walked back to his seat. "Don't you ever mention my wife's name again with your fucking mouth," Smith uttered twice with eyes red in anger. The slap resulted from an insult at the 2022 Oscar for the stars. It has since become the talk of the town. Everyone is attempting to judge whether Rock was correct for making a joke about Smith's wife's medical condition, and that was Smith right in turning the Oscars into a slap session?
Oscars' managers have said they are investigating. People say that the Oscars need an investigation for allowing Rock to make Smith's wife part of his joke for the night that turned into an insult leading to a slap. Curious observers say Smith showed his human side, but Rock was the cause of the feud.
There would have been no feud without Rock turning Smith's medical condition into a joke. What Rock did was inhuman. But was that sufficient for Smith to bring Oscars' dignity into the mud? The issue here is about Rock's action and Smith's reaction leading to damage to Oscar's public image.
It is the reason behind celebrity's frets and face-saving reactions to the night's unexpected event. But unfortunately, the negative stigma on Oscars prestige is assured. Smith's well-publicized apology to Rock and the people, less than 24 hours, cannot remove it. On another note, Rock receives praise for keeping his calm but still no questions about his sanity for causing the blackout.
It leads to the talk about celebrity's lifestyle and society's gain from Rock's dabbling into Smith's private life. Smith is not a political leader or a public office holder. Rock will have protection under the Law concerning defamation and holding public officers accountable. It then turns into whether the Oscars vet the type of jokes that whoever umpires at the Oscars be allowed unlimited freedom.
Another lesson from the Oscars to guard against a future occurrence of insults and slaps is about managing the umpire's freedom. For example, people ask whether the Oscars managers saw the Rock's script for the night for editing or the matter just came into his head to play with a private person's health issue? Some observers say that Rock may not have known about Smith's health issue, but he should have investigated the facts before opening his mouth.
Many people say that Rock is quite fortunate he has done this to a man who is quick to show his human side. But, without obstruction, that is capable of a more sinister reaction. Smith has continued this expression of his human side with a written apology, and Rock is still silent!
Oscars' managers have said they are investigating. People say that the Oscars need an investigation for allowing Rock to make Smith's wife part of his joke for the night that turned into an insult leading to a slap. Curious observers say Smith showed his human side, but Rock was the cause of the feud.
There would have been no feud without Rock turning Smith's medical condition into a joke. What Rock did was inhuman. But was that sufficient for Smith to bring Oscars' dignity into the mud? The issue here is about Rock's action and Smith's reaction leading to damage to Oscar's public image.
It is the reason behind celebrity's frets and face-saving reactions to the night's unexpected event. But unfortunately, the negative stigma on Oscars prestige is assured. Smith's well-publicized apology to Rock and the people, less than 24 hours, cannot remove it. On another note, Rock receives praise for keeping his calm but still no questions about his sanity for causing the blackout.
It leads to the talk about celebrity's lifestyle and society's gain from Rock's dabbling into Smith's private life. Smith is not a political leader or a public office holder. Rock will have protection under the Law concerning defamation and holding public officers accountable. It then turns into whether the Oscars vet the type of jokes that whoever umpires at the Oscars be allowed unlimited freedom.
Another lesson from the Oscars to guard against a future occurrence of insults and slaps is about managing the umpire's freedom. For example, people ask whether the Oscars managers saw the Rock's script for the night for editing or the matter just came into his head to play with a private person's health issue? Some observers say that Rock may not have known about Smith's health issue, but he should have investigated the facts before opening his mouth.
Many people say that Rock is quite fortunate he has done this to a man who is quick to show his human side. But, without obstruction, that is capable of a more sinister reaction. Smith has continued this expression of his human side with a written apology, and Rock is still silent!
