The Oscars is arguably the most boring show in television. My family and I only watched the Oscars when we thought a black person had a chance to win, which meant once every 10 years. We would watch until said black person’s category was presented. We would act like we were in real suspense and after said black person lost, we either changed the channel or went to bed. Tonight the Oscars was full of heat. Comedian Chris Rock presented an award in the documentary category and made a reference to Javier Bardem and Penelope Cruz both being nominated and what a shame it would be if Javier won and Penelope lost.
Chris Rock: Javier Bardem and his wife are both nominated. Now if she loses, he can’t win. He is praying that Will Smith wins. Like please, Lawwd! Jada … GI Jane II, can’t way to see it … That was a nice one, okay. Uh oh, Richard …
Will Smith: Thud!
Chris Rock: Oh wow! Wow! Will Smith just smacked the shit out of me.
Will Smith: Keep my wife’s name out your &^%%$$ mouth!
Chris Rock: Wow dude. It was a GI Jane joke.
Will Smith: Keep my wife’s name out your &^%%$$ mouth!
Chris Rock tried to play it off, but he was clearly embarrassed. I’m not sure who was more embarrassed – Will or Chris Rock. This was the wildest moment at an awards show since Kanye West showed his behind at the MTV Music Awards after Taylor Swift won over Beyonce.
You could tell by her reaction that Jada Pinkett Smith did not like the joke. She tried to play it off, but she appeared offended. Jada likely thought her shaved head was a good look for the Oscars. Can you imagine a woman taking weeks to think of an outfit to wear, and taking hours to prepare for the right look – the dress, the make-up the hair – and then getting clowned? She was likely mortified and Will came to her defense.
These are some trying times, and the world – from Putin to Biden to Trump to Zelensky – is very jaded. Things that people may have blown off years ago are now triggering and people simply are not going to take it any more. Ralph Baker’s “Shock Exchange: How Inner-City Kids From Brooklyn Predicted the Great Recession and the Pain Ahead” predicted this type of social unrest years ago. With the war in the Ukraine, a cold war between the U.S., Russia and China and a pullback in the global economy, this is just the beginning. Don’t say you were not warned.
