(Alex Tien, Headline USA) The fallout continues one week after “the slap heard ’round the world” occurred at this year’s Academy Awards.
A-list actor Will Smith, who viciously slapped comedian Chris Rock on live television after Rock made a joke about Smith’s wife, has been the target of heavy criticism for his actions. After Smith walked up the stage to assault Rock, he then threatened Rock using nonsensical phrases and profanities, shrieking that he would like for Rock to “Keep my wife’s name out your [expletive] mouth!”
Condemnation proceeded to rain down on Smith, who although initially apologetic, seemed unbothered by violent, narcissist behavior.
Media critic Mike Cernovich tweeted that Smith “committed a violent crime, took no responsibility, and then blamed it on his feelings. Perfect encapsulation of our times.”
Donald Trump Jr. also asked, “What kind of privilege is it when you can assault someone on national television and then go ahead and win an Oscar rather than go to jail? Asking for millions of supposedly privileged people.”
Unsurprisingly, the woke left has a far different explanation of Smith’s actions at the Oscars.
Speaking on PBS News Hour, Hunter College English professor Eisa Nefertari Ulen claimed that Will Smith slapping Chris Rock was triggered by 400 years of “black erasure, black marginalization, black silencing, and the stereotyping of black people.”
Ulen said that it’s important that we should understand Smith’s “emotional and psychological state that’s driving this physical response to a trigger, and Will Smith was definitely triggered that night.”
Ulen also wrote some remarkable mumbo-jumbo about the event in the Hollywood Reporter, stating that, “We cannot excuse Will or Chris for their behavior on Oscar night. Chris’ joke was a verbal assault, a tearing down of Black women that was triggering and cruel.
“Will’s slap was a physical assault, a tearing down of another Black man to reclaim his heteronormative power in that very public realm.”
Ulen offered little to no help in understanding the issue or solving it, saying that, “Rather than punitively discipline Will Smith for his violence, the Academy and the Hollywood machine should take this opportunity to reflect and recognize their part in fomenting it.”
