What the “Slap Heard Around the World” Showed the World!

 Nearly two weeks ago the Oscars Awards program was broadcast and as most people know actor Will Smith walked up on stage and slapped comedian Chris Rock after he told a “mild” joke that referenced the appearance of Smith’s wife (Jada Pinkett Smith).  For days after the incident, it was a topic on most news and talk/ opinion shows. 

 

Everyone had an opinion, for the first 24 hours much of those, including broadcasts, either supported Will Smith’s actions or made excuses for his actions.  A couple of politicians even posted tweets applauding Smith’s actions and then deleted them, one claimed that they supported Smith because they didn’t realize that it was real and not staged.  Watching the numerous reactions and stories about “the slap heard around the world” during the following week I thought it explained a lot and answered a question that many asked the past couple of years.  How could Harvey Weinstein have gotten away with his criminal acts for as long as he did?  Yes, I said criminal acts because what Will Smith did was the criminal act of Battery (assault in some jurisdictions).

 

Harvey Weinstein was able to get away with his crimes for so long because “Hollywood” has sympathy for the offenders, the victims not so much!  Look at the way “Hollywood” reacted to “the slap”, you saw people going to console Will Smith after his actions towards Chris Rock.  When Smith was announced as the recipient of the Best Actor Award for the movie “King Richard” he received a standing ovation, not a polite applause, a standing ovation!  Will Smith slapped Chris Rock for telling a joke that he (and many of the audience) had laughed at.  It wasn’t until the Williams family (King Richard was about the family Patriarch and Serena & Venus’ father Richard Williams) spoke out against what had occurred (the slap) and others outside of “Hollywood” criticized Smith’s actions, pointing out if he had not been a wealthy celebrity he would have been arrested on the spot, then “Hollywood” began to temper their support for Will Smith slapping Chris Rock. 

 

The immediate response of “Hollywood” was to sympathize and support the offender, even though they had actually witnessed with their own eyes his criminal act.  Their concern was for the aggressor and not the victim!  That response vividly demonstrates why victims of Harvey Weinstein were fearful that their careers would be ruined just for being victims.  Of course, the media didn’t help, the descriptions of what occurred varied from a minor incident to one headline referring to what happened as a brawl.  A brawl, really!  As someone that has been in a brawl before I can assure you this was not a brawl (not even close).

 

This act also showed the world that celebrities anti violence claims are because it is beneficial to their image which in turn has an impact on their personal finances, not a genuine concern for their fellow humans (unless they happen to also be one of the entitled/ celebrity class).  It also showed that claims of the U.S. Criminal Justice System being racist were wrong.  In this incident the victim and offender were both persons of color, had the offender not been an entitled celebrity he would have been taken into custody at the time regardless of whether the victim wanted an arrest made.  The victim would have to go tell the prosecuting Attorney that they did not wish to pursue charges and then the prosecutor could drop/ dismiss the charges.  Claims that there are two systems, one for the rich and one for everyone else was given credibility by this incident.

 

Perhaps “Hollywood” should remember and try to live by an adage, “Practice What You Preach” before criticizing or passing judgement on the U.S. Judicial System again.  That would definitely add credibility to them and their alleged position on crime and the Judicial System.

 

That’s my opinion, what’s yours!