The “slap heard around the world”

USD discusses Chris Rock’s joke and its ramifications 

ABIGAIL CAVIZO / ASST. A&C EDITOR / THE USD VISTA

The 94th Academy Awards ceremony, also known as the “Oscars,” is meant to highlight films and those involved with its creation. This year, there were many groundbreaking moments. It was the first time the ceremony was hosted by three female comedians (Regina Hall, Amy Schumer, and Wanda Skyes), the first time an openly Queer woman (Ariana DeBose as “Anita” in West Side Story) won “Best Supporting Actress,” and the first time a deaf male actor (Troy Kotsur as “Frank Rossi” in CODA) took home “Best Actor in Supporting Role.” 

While these events are being talked about, there is one moment that stands out from the rest: the altercation between Will Smith and Chris Rock. Well-known comedian, Chris Rock, was onstage presenting nominees. He made a joke about Jada Pinkett Smith’s shaved head, comparing her to G.I. Jane, a bald character. This joke was perceived as a reference to Pinkett Smith’s alopecia—an autoimmune disorder that causes hair to fall out. Pinkett Smith’s struggles on her journey with alopecia is something she has been very vocal about. Smith appeared to laugh, but after seeing his wife roll her eyes, abruptly took to the stage and slapped Rock across the face. 

Some are calling it “the slap heard around the world” as its occurrence stirred up much controversy amongst news organizations, social media, and viewers. 

Instead of talking about the award winners and their art, the joke Chris Rock made about Jada Pinkett Smith and Will Smith’s reaction became a focal point of the awards show for many. 

USD professor of “African American Women’s History” Dr. Channon Miller, discussed that the slap should not outshine any of the milestones reached at the Oscars, especially Will Packer’s role in heading the first ever Black produced Oscars.

“It shouldn’t overshadow it, and if it does, it suggests that there really isn’t a strong commitment to seeing and valuing Black contributions to the Oscars,” Dr. Miller said. “It shouldn’t take one moment to stop people from having an interest in inviting in Black production. This is a form of anti-Blackness: there’s so many limited opportunities and when you get one, there’s an expectation to be faultless.”

For the slap itself, a lot of people are criticizing Smith, calling the slap an “act of violence.” Rock has chosen not to press charges, but Smith has since released a public apology via multiple social media platforms to the comedian for his immediate, physical reaction to the joke. 

Smith also addressed the Williams family. Smith won an Oscar for his role in King Richard as Richard Williams, father of tennis stars Venus and Serena Williams. 

Some believe the slap garnered more attention than the story of Williams family, so he gave condolences to them for allowing his violence to outweigh the honor that comes with playing Richard Williams. 

Explaining how he “betrayed the trust of the Academy,” Smith resigned from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences about a week after the slap occurred.

Dr. Miller compared Smith to Williams in that they are Black men that are passionate about being fierce, family protectors. 

“The way that Will Smith is being described, especially by the white media, is very similar to the way that they describe the Williams sisters and their father,” Dr. Miller stated. “Now, folks step aside and honor him, but they didn’t always do that for Richard Williams. Perhaps the grace they took so long to give Richard Williams should be given to Will Smith in real time now in honoring Williams and in honoring that film.”

USD senior D. Brose recognized the slap as assault. However, he points out Rock’s choice of words toward Pinkett Smith and his history of questionable comedy should also be acknowledged.

“There are so many jokes out there that can be made, and Chris Rock is known for pushing the line of what is ‘good’ comedy. He has let white comedians say the n-word and has made other hair jokes,” Brose said. “I’m not saying either [Chris Rock or Will Smith] should be ‘cancelled,’ but as a Black comedian, Chris has a responsibility not to punch down on our community.”

The question of “how far is too far?” in regards to comedy has been in circulation within the last couple years. 

Along with the slap drawing attention to Rock and his comedic history, an interview with The Hollywood Reporter from September 2020 in which he revealed his nonverbal learning disorder has since resurfaced. Due to this diagnosis, Rock has trouble sensing social cues.

Dr. Miller engaged with other Black women on social media about her personal response to the slap. 

She expressed the notion that the conversation shouldn’t be centered around them or comedy, but rather around Jada Pinkett Smith and her feelings toward the situation. 

“On one hand, I think about how the slap was to protect Jada Pinkett Smith and honor her feelings and how many Black women have grappled with ridicule when it comes to their hair. [Smith] saying this isn’t okay is very powerful to me,” Dr. Miller said. “I want to make space to acknowledge how this action was harmful to Chris Rock, but it’s also important to be mindful of things that influence our assessment of this event—race and gender are factors in how we’re all responding.”

Similar to Dr. Miller’s approach to wanting Pinkett Smith’s voice to be heard, USD junior Kaia Morrison discovered there are ways that everyone can uplift Black women. 

“It’s problematic to reduce Black women to any body part or physical attribute, especially when there is a medical condition, disability, or any type of stereotype attached to it,” Morrison said. “Black women do a lot, much more than I’m sure the average person realizes and in educating yourself, showing up, and supporting the Black community in all its beauty and fullness is a good first step into beginning to uplift Black women.”

Viewers and audience members may resonate more with Chris Rock or with Will Smith, but supporting the Black community also means supporting the women within it. 

For the future of the Oscars, the Black community will be sure to keep Black feminism at the forefront of everyone’s minds—making sure that comedy will not be at the expense of anyone and their health issues.