Will Smith's altercation at the Oscars
- Thread starter irjO
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After undergoing a "face reconstruction surgery," I bet Chris Rock's opening statement at his next show will be:
"Oh wow, you all came to see the greatest show on earth!"
Artex
Jedi
I also think it's a valid concern that it has grabbed the media and public's attention to the degree it has, but for me that's because I love stand up. I love laughing at messed-up comedy. I cut my teeth on Robin Williams in the 80s (which was a little risque for a pre-teen) and later Bill Hicks. There are many examples out there already of entitled people at comedy shows interrupting or arguing with comics, and even videos of patrons attacking and beating comics (as happened to Jimmy Dore once). Words are not violence. The laws of the US still reflect that fact.
The slap was indeed heard around the world, but I think for forums like this, it should be a discussion of "society's child" which has become a spoiled brat, and not whether it was real or staged, because either way, it's signalling to already unhinged people that violence against words isn't just allowed, but will get you views. Our discussion, if it continues for another 5 or 6 pages, should probably focus on what leads a man like Will Smith to commit such an act. There's a human element to it. While Smith didn't at first seem bothered by the joke at all, he did get up. And to me, when he walked up, the way his shoulders hunched looked like he was about to do something he didn't want to do. And when he yelled at Rock afterward, there was real pain on his face.
On the other hand, there's probably not a good way to turn all this information into knowledge that would have utility to us. I think it's more of a warning that things have changed enough in society that norms are breaking down to a dangerous point.
We have to keep in mind that first of all he's a comedian so he's used to rolling with the punches when it comes to disruptions to his act, though maybe not so literally. He does lose his composure briefly after the initial shocked 'oh wow' moment, which is his 'shock' reaction, and even looks stage left at the producers for a some guidance at one point.
Looks to me like a comedian at an award show trying his best to deal with something totally outside of what he planned to happen. He even screws up his statement after Smith yells at him by saying "we're here to give a documentary..." which makes sense.
It could also be from what I pointed out earlier about the effect adrenaline has on body movements. One becomes more stiff and rigid with movements becoming more exaggerated and sloppy. This is why in street fights most of the punches you see are either wild haymakers or stiff arm battering ram style hits. Smith's rigid posture and slight stumble or loss of balance after the hit is consistent with the effects of an adrenaline dump causing poor motor function, posture, and planting for the slap/hit.
The other big thing of note on this point is that he doesn't have an over-exaggerated wind up which is consistent with a real hit and is inconsistent with a stage slap. He brings his hand up from his hip up to his shoulder and hits. He doesn't bring his hand high above his head, bring his hand behind his back, or produce any kind of over-exaggeration that would intentionally telegraph what he's doing to let Rock know to prepare.
From my examination the sound starts in the frame where Smith makes contact.
Indeed. Which would lead more credence to what I pointed out earlier about it being a poorly executed slap. With the exaggerated body movements and poor motor function due to the adrenaline the intended slap actually turned into more of an open palm punch. This would explain the thud and it would also explain his full follow through where his hitting arm goes all the way across his body.
From the point of view of it being staged the thud doesn't make sense since it couldn't have come from either Smith or Rock. Rock definitely couldn't have done it with his hands behind his back. Smith's one free hand is smoothly coming up his centerline to protect his face with no hint of deviation which would indicate that hand was doing anything other than traveling upwards for protection. Which means if the sound isn't coming from Rock's face or either party, then it had to come from somewhere else. If it was coming from elsewhere, then why thud a mic when you'd have the ability to stage a slap 'crack'?
Notice how relaxed Smith is during that interaction. He's not over-whelmed by adrenaline so his relaxed slap was actually a slap.
Edit: Added some extra sentences relating to Smith's lack of telegraphing his hit.
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FWIW - this from yesterday's editorial page of the Columbus Dispatch/USA TODAY:
Dr. Jerome Adams, a former U.S. surgeon general, is a distinguished professor and executive director of health equity initiatives at Purdue University. Follow him on Twitter: @JeromeAdamsMD
It's hard to believe that Will deliberately risked putting himself in a very bad light at the very moment he was to receive the highest accolade of his acting career - and for money? He doesn't have quite enough already? Who can really fathom the minds of these high-profile "famous" people whose professional and private lives are constantly in the spotlight. Perhaps the reason this incident has caused such a commotion is that the Academy Awards was supposed to be a "return to normal" event - back to the way things use to be more or less. Will's over-the-top assault and F bomb outburst shattered that illusion. No, congenial, respectful, and appropriate conduct cannot be guaranteed even at the swankiest Hollywood show of all. Someone can go off - even someone like Will Smith - at the least provocation. Expect it. And maybe that was the real point of the slap whether staged or not.
Dr. Jerome Adams, a former U.S. surgeon general, is a distinguished professor and executive director of health equity initiatives at Purdue University. Follow him on Twitter: @JeromeAdamsMD
It's hard to believe that Will deliberately risked putting himself in a very bad light at the very moment he was to receive the highest accolade of his acting career - and for money? He doesn't have quite enough already? Who can really fathom the minds of these high-profile "famous" people whose professional and private lives are constantly in the spotlight. Perhaps the reason this incident has caused such a commotion is that the Academy Awards was supposed to be a "return to normal" event - back to the way things use to be more or less. Will's over-the-top assault and F bomb outburst shattered that illusion. No, congenial, respectful, and appropriate conduct cannot be guaranteed even at the swankiest Hollywood show of all. Someone can go off - even someone like Will Smith - at the least provocation. Expect it. And maybe that was the real point of the slap whether staged or not.
Tauriel
Dagobah Resident
So we've already established that Pfizer is the sponsor of the oscars and that Pfizer is about to launch a new medication against alopecia.
Alopecia however seems to be one of the possible vaxx's side effects.
So here we are again, having gone full circle just like they're launching new medication against heart problems in children which haven't existed before in the first place.
Alopecia however seems to be one of the possible vaxx's side effects.
So here we are again, having gone full circle just like they're launching new medication against heart problems in children which haven't existed before in the first place.
So its a win-win for everybody!
For me what gives it away is Rock's standing position just before the "slap", both feet apart at shoulder level, leaning forward presenting the jaw with both arms in the back -- a good position to keep the balance.
And then after the "slap", Rock doesn't even rub his cheek and/or jaw Which for me is unnatural not to do.
I, too, wondered whether or not the slap was staged when I saw it, but am firmly in the camp of thinking that it was in fact (and unfortunately), a totally real and outrageously over-the top response (lest any of us continue to wonder) - and will point out a few more things:
I’d say that Rock’s perceived leaning in - “in expectation of the slap” - was not actually in expectation of it; Smith is very well known for his wit and charisma in TV show interviews and public appearances, so I would imagine that Rock was expecting Smith to make some funny comments and possibly insults back, and nothing more. The leaning in being more like “Hey Will, ok, say what you gotta say, I’m game for it.”.
Look at the following video at .25 speed at the :40 second mark: As some professionals have already observed, it is a perfect angle from which to shoot a fake slap, but was the slap fake?
At :42 Rock’s expression seems to say: “What the hell, man!?”
Then stop the video at :46 and look at how Rock shakes his head ever slow slightly as if to say “Well, well, well…” and shortly after follows this by what looks like a stunned expression.
At 1:08, after Smith’s yelling, Rock just shakes his head as if to say, “there’s nothing to be done about this, Will just completely lost it”
And then at 1:11, as Ajay mentioned, Rock turns his head towards what may be guessed was a producer off-stage as if to ask “Ok, what should I do next??” - At which time the producers probably communicated through his ear-piece, “Just keep going!”
One of the cardinal sins in acting is ‘indicating’. That’s when what an actor does is so obviously exaggerated to show or express something that it comes off as fake. Rock is not an accomplished actor, but a stand-up comedian - used to making his jokes loud and clear. But what we see here with Rock are a slew of movements and expressions which are so subtle so as to support the idea that Rock was NOT acting - all the while working to maintain his composure. So I think that Its just a testament to Rock’s professionalism that he was as well composed as he was after the slap, but he was clearly shaken afterwards; the show must go on and all that.
As far as Smith’s outrageous actions go, it probably beggars belief among many that he would behave that way. But that just speaks to how utterly grandiose, narcissistic and utterly lost he is in dealing with his very bad relationship issues. We just have little as a reference point for such a MAJOR despicable public act like his - so we say to ourselves "can't be!". That combined with a deservedly cynical perspective on Hollywood and its need for ratings/attention just adds to the take that the slap was staged.
A prediction: Smith and his wife will come out with a public statement affirming their commitment to one another, but will be separated and/or divorced in a year’s time. What is now perfectly obvious to the rest of the world will become utterly apparent to Smith himself; which is that he is in a very destructive relationship - as he is now thrown into the chaos of this realization and has to reconcile his very public image of success with such an obvious and intimate display of failure that is rooted in his personal life. Who would want to go through such a public humiliation just to garner more publicity for one's self when one has already achieved such immense outer success?
I’d say that Rock’s perceived leaning in - “in expectation of the slap” - was not actually in expectation of it; Smith is very well known for his wit and charisma in TV show interviews and public appearances, so I would imagine that Rock was expecting Smith to make some funny comments and possibly insults back, and nothing more. The leaning in being more like “Hey Will, ok, say what you gotta say, I’m game for it.”.
Look at the following video at .25 speed at the :40 second mark: As some professionals have already observed, it is a perfect angle from which to shoot a fake slap, but was the slap fake?
At :42 Rock’s expression seems to say: “What the hell, man!?”
Then stop the video at :46 and look at how Rock shakes his head ever slow slightly as if to say “Well, well, well…” and shortly after follows this by what looks like a stunned expression.
At 1:08, after Smith’s yelling, Rock just shakes his head as if to say, “there’s nothing to be done about this, Will just completely lost it”
And then at 1:11, as Ajay mentioned, Rock turns his head towards what may be guessed was a producer off-stage as if to ask “Ok, what should I do next??” - At which time the producers probably communicated through his ear-piece, “Just keep going!”
One of the cardinal sins in acting is ‘indicating’. That’s when what an actor does is so obviously exaggerated to show or express something that it comes off as fake. Rock is not an accomplished actor, but a stand-up comedian - used to making his jokes loud and clear. But what we see here with Rock are a slew of movements and expressions which are so subtle so as to support the idea that Rock was NOT acting - all the while working to maintain his composure. So I think that Its just a testament to Rock’s professionalism that he was as well composed as he was after the slap, but he was clearly shaken afterwards; the show must go on and all that.
As far as Smith’s outrageous actions go, it probably beggars belief among many that he would behave that way. But that just speaks to how utterly grandiose, narcissistic and utterly lost he is in dealing with his very bad relationship issues. We just have little as a reference point for such a MAJOR despicable public act like his - so we say to ourselves "can't be!". That combined with a deservedly cynical perspective on Hollywood and its need for ratings/attention just adds to the take that the slap was staged.
A prediction: Smith and his wife will come out with a public statement affirming their commitment to one another, but will be separated and/or divorced in a year’s time. What is now perfectly obvious to the rest of the world will become utterly apparent to Smith himself; which is that he is in a very destructive relationship - as he is now thrown into the chaos of this realization and has to reconcile his very public image of success with such an obvious and intimate display of failure that is rooted in his personal life. Who would want to go through such a public humiliation just to garner more publicity for one's self when one has already achieved such immense outer success?
I had the same impression of Jada before, after all she did to Will, it surprises me that he went back to her and has been overprotecting her since! Only a pathological person would make your partner act like that, again, assuming it wasn’t staged!
I don't agree. Aside from the sting, the worst thing about a slap is the humiliation. While I'm sure some people would rub their cheek after being slapped, I don't know how common it is. Aside from movies or TV, in my experience most people let it burn and continue on - either in expectation of further attacks, or to maintain some dignity. Some examples:
So far, I've found Jocko Willink's take to be the most insightful (especially the last 20 seconds or so
):
Chris Rock reminded me of a child being smacked: he was just grinning and bearing it and trying to find his bearing again. It's very possible that I could be reading too much into this, but I was wondering whether Chris Rock honed this kind of defence mechanism to perfection.
