The Infamous Slap: Flipping the Script

Hmmm, who was the realvictim in that all too public scene?

I did not watch theAcademy Awards last Sunday evening. The Leafs hockey game was of more interestto me. Hence, I did not see in real time the now infamous Will Smith slap ofChris Rock. But it has been all over the news media and social media so I ammore or less up to speed.

I did not want to enterthe debate. There has been far too much hullabaloo about it already. However,the inflammatory nature of the reaction, and the manner in which blame wasassigned, compells me to weigh in. This is my unapologetic take on the matter.

Chris Rock’s joke aimedat Jada Pinkett Smith was insensitive and offensive. It is not acceptable inany manner to base humour on someone else’s race, creed, colour, sexual orientationor a disease from which they are suffering. To do so is a form of discriminationand as such is intolerable.

Chris Rock got exactlywhat he deserved.

I know many willimmediately respond that violence is never an acceptable response to anaffront. But I will argue in turn that there is a difference between a punchand a slap. A punch is an act of aggression intended to cause physical harm. Aslap, in this context, is an understandable expression of outrage at offensive behaviour.

Jada Pinkett Smith couldwear a wig and hide her disease. But she chooses to confront it which is an actof courage that deserves praise and respect – not humiliation.

Will Smith defended hiswife’s dignity, and by association the dignity of all who suffer from the samedisease, and was justified in doing so. He could have thrown a punch – in hisshoes, I may very well have done so – but he exercised discretion and opted fora slap instead. For that, I salute him.

Much has been made ofthe standing ovation that Will Smith received when he accepted his award.(Again, I was not watching so I am speaking based on what I have heard.) It hasbeen condemned by many. But I am inclined to believe that the gesture was bothfor his brilliant acting and for having the courage to confront discriminationand, literally, slap it down.

The Academy isapparently considering sanctions against Will Smith for his actions. This is,quite frankly, a blatant cop-out. If anyone should be sanctioned, it is ChrisRock for his offensive behaviour. The Academy is choosing to react to the symptomrather than showing the leadership to deal with the root cause. To that I canonly say, shame on them.

Being a comedian is nota blank cheque to go for a cheap laugh at someone else’s expense. I find it baffling that,in a time when political correctness is a runaway train, an egregiouslypolitically incorrect act is given a free pass while the victims are punishedfor fighting back.

In summary, my positionis, unapologetically: Will Smith responded appropriately and courageously andshould be praised for his actions. I wish that I could tell him so in personand shake his hand which is probably still stinging from the slap he had nochoice but to unleash.

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~ Michael Robert Dyet is alsothe author of Until the Deep Water Stills – An Internet-enhanced Novel whichwas a double winner in the Reader Views Literary Awards 2009. Visit Michael’swebsite at www.mdyetmetaphor.com .

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