Is there anything at all about the Academy Awards that elevates the disadvantaged and marginalized in our poorest communities? No. Never has been, though. The Smith assault itself was a loud air horn signaling open season on the crudest of reactions: random violence, and its potential for uncontrolled elevation.
Smith’s smack seems to have had varying levels of impact on those of us who witnessed it. Some of us merely shrugged our shoulders and moved on to something else within moments of seeing the footage. Others chuckled at a couple of memes on social media and maybe even shared a few of them. And still, others couldn’t help but marvel at the clear double standard for Hollywood’s elites compared to the rest of society.
Will Smith and his siren of openness to boys-night-out should get a special Charlie Chaplin award for the cheeseball slapstick moment of the year. He laughed. She then pouted, which made him manhood-it-up and with a very masculine wagon wheel roundhouse swing, he slapped Chris Rock. Rock laughed off the “punch.” Smith then strutted off the stage hopefully not having smeared his lipstick.