Chivalry, Gangs, and Hollywood

Remember when schools and teachers were making a big stink out of bullying? I saw signs that read "No Tolerance for Bullies" and it went along with the smiles brought on from the bumper sticker that read "Mean People Suck!" We routed for the underdog and all got copies of "Revenge of the Nerds" and "Stand by Me". All the while Eleven kicked everyone's butt in the fave new Netflix show "Stranger Things" until she lost her powers and the bullies took her down at the skating rink. Oy ve.

Where am I going with this? Well, Jim Carey made a good speech about his disappointment with Will Smith's behavior regarding the Chris Rock smack. Of course, it was wrong. No one should hit another person and especially in front of the camera when thousands are watching. Humiliation and pain on cam. That is bad, no doubt. Yet while I agree with Jim that Will's smack wasn't right, I have to ask why is it okay that Chris can mock or make jokes about anyone without reprimand? If Jada had pressed charges for slander or emotional distress she would have lost and been mocked even more. While Will may have appeared to be wrong or a bully, to Jada he was a knight in shining armor, defending her honor while they tried to figure out how they felt about each other after being separated.

Of course, Chris is a victim, to some degree. He's a comedian and he thought he had freedom to make jokes without any repercussions. As a host, he felt his joke on Jada was just part of his "job"... But people, whether they are famous or not, are tired of getting emotionally abused in public or private for the sake of humor or a 'job' and no one validating the emotional abuse -- because hey that's normal and gas lighting and being mean for the sake of some laughs is completely acceptable and nothing to get bent out of shape about. Until someone gets slapped. Then it's real. Then it's not just 'oh stop whining'...nope...now we have an actual victim because the pain occurred physically. Emotional pain is fake? And so is physcial pain unless we see it happen.

I don't agree with Jim that the Will/Chris thing is the end of Hollywood. Actually, I think Will did Hollywood a favor by making them realize that pain is more than physical or violence. Enough of the fake victims? There really is no way to know who is faking pain or not, so we might as well treat everyone with respect. Will was keeping it real; it's just sad that Chris had to be the recipient of the first scene of "Wake Up Fools!"

It's not easy to do what Will or Chris do. Comedy is the toughest entertainment gig there is. However, take a look at Will's track record. Will managed to entertain us and make us laugh for many years without a personal attack on any specific person especially at a big event like the Awards ceremony. Chris is a real victim, but he started it. Jada was the first victim, but everyone just says it was no big deal. That's EXACTLY why I think Will rocked the boat. To say to the world, "It does matter. She's my Lady. If I don't stand up and say 'back off' who will? How can she know that I put her first if I allow others to disrespect her right in front of me?" Maybe he could have just said that in a big emotional yelling scene instead of hitting Chris. Maybe it needed to be said. Either way, Will wanted to make a Chivalrous statement. He risked everything to prove to Jada that he loves her and that her feelings matter. Chris was wrong to be mean to Jada. Will shouldn't have smacked him, but Will was stuck in a hard spot. Thinking quick about what to say doesn't come to men as quick as a fist. Do you know how many women and children got abused for saying the wrong thing to their parents or husbands? Sorry Chris, but in the future maybe you should aim your comedic cracks on yourself or humanity in general and not make it a personal attack. Then everyone will know it's just a joke and there will be no retaliation. I'm not an advocate for violence, but neither will I deny that emotional abuse is not acceptable.