If I’m running the Academy, Will Smith is not giving an acceptance speech, he’s getting escorted out and we’re taking your swag bag back. Oh, your Oscar is in the mail. Congrats?

What was trending as a night full of love and kindness was single-handedly brought to a screeching halt by Will Smith. The world watched in disbelief as Will Smith smacked Chris Rock on live television last night at the Oscar’s.(Wait, was that real?!) Will’s actions were in response to a “G.I. Jane” joke made by Rock about his wife Jada. At first, cameras showed Will laughing along, but the tone drastically changed when his wife looked uncomfortable. 

Jada Pinkett Smith has been vocal about her struggle with alopecia.”It was one of those times in my life where I was literally shaking with fear,” she said about the condition. “That’s why I cut my hair and continued to cut it.”

RELATED READING ::The Bald & the Beautiful: My Journey With Hair Loss & Living With Alopecia

Will Smith’s actions seem to be in his wife’s honor, but he did the opposite. He made the moment about him. The entire—positive, loving—94th Annual Academy Awards about him. If Will Smith kept his hands to himself, we would all be talking about the bad “joke” this morning—all coming to Jada’s defense. Maybe Chris Rock would have made a public apology and we could all move on.

It was as if Will Smith slapped everyone in the room, because the entire tone was changed for the rest of the night. Will’s first Oscar is now forever attached to this behavior. And that acceptance “speech.” This was heartbreaking to see in so many ways, and while I do believe Will Smith is hurting, he should not have turned to violence. Because this unfolded on live TV, everyone is chiming in to defend Will Smith for defending or trying to “cancel” him all-together. 

I’m sticking to what my Mama taught me. Violence is not the answer.

 

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