On Sunday evening, March 27, 2022, 16.6 million viewers tuned in to one of the mostwatched televised programs next to the Super Bowl. The Oscars have been the template for prestigious, classy & elegant award shows. Unfortunately, this year it spewed a bit of controversy that intercepted everyone’s rewarding moment with physical mischief. You may have to
read that line again because the term should not be in the same paragraph when speaking of “The Oscars.” However, actor
Will Smith displayed a physical reaction to presenter comedian Chris Rock. Rock had the stage to present and used some of his time to make what he perceived as a joke regarding Will’s lawful mate, Jada Pinkett Smith. Jada has publicly spoken out on dealing with a condition called alopecia, when hair is absent from areas of the body where it usually grows. This is why Jada arrived at The Oscars with a bald appearance. Rock made a joke referencing the fictional character G.I. Jane played by actress Demi Moore who wore a bald haircut for the movie. Which then makes Demi look voluntary and Jada’s involuntary. Creating a more sensitive spot for Jada to be the butt end of a medical mishap about hair in front of millions of people. She immediately showed discomfort in Rocks dig in all body language and facial expressions that
husband Will could detect. After Smith identified his wife’s discomfort, his mental became an out-of-body experience. Can you imagine knowing your loved one’s intimate secrets at home and how they actually feel and deal with waking up with hair shedding onto the pillowcase next to your mate? Or witnessing the falling out in the shower or bathroom sink? You can’t unless your spouse has this condition or one similar to side effects. That audio from Chris Rock turned into a visual for
Will Smith, and he then had omitted the time to be proactive and became reactive. He walked on national TV and slapped Chris Rock. Neither does this media outlet condone violence nor I, but as the author of this piece, I bring understanding before condemning. I feel Smith didn’t need to render immediate protection because Jada was not in immediate danger, but, as a husband, Smith needed to protect his wife’s emotions and mental state. So many began to chastise Will all week on the internet and media outlets. Forgetting that there’s room for human error and reconciling. Can you imagine all the mistakes you’ve made in life, and the sovereign GOD we serve didn’t bring Grace or Mercy to your situation? Will made his error on TV. We make ours off, but we make them. I cram to understand not many rallying around the sanctification of marriage in this story and recognize Smith is honoring his vows to protect. Allow me to present why some are not because they’re utilizing Jada’s once public affair as bait to restrict Will from still holding onto marital vows he made. That’s bewildering to me that the world has come to a place where when a couple has decided to forgive one another and move on, we, the public jurors, will not. So now a spouse that partakes in what society sees as an affair and the couple decides to
evoke “for better or worse,” we the people still condemn? It’s not fair to Will, Jada, and not Chris Rock. Notice many are upset that Chris immediately offered what appears as forgiveness and did not press charges. I feel for Rock because he didn’t deserve that on national TV, but comedians should exude boundaries on any medical conditions out of one’s control. Whether he knew it or not, it plays a part, but as formentioned in the article, Jada spoke many times publicly. I salute Rock for showing such poise & restraint that the average human could not have. Had it been me presenting, “the kingdom would of suffereth violence” (Matthew 11:12). Instead, he took the “vengeance is mine saith the Lord” route (Romans 12:19). Black-on-black crime is never a time of celebration and should be met with the ability to articulate to
deescalate. I so wish Will would have done that, but he did not. I applaud his public apology and voluntary will to resign from the academy. In contrast, applauding his urge to immediately protect the black woman, his woman. Sadly, they’re the
most unprotected beings walking, and I pray we execute protection more in a nonviolent manner. Meanwhile, the lesson I got from this is to also honor thy marriage, and too many make this whimsical date to have a WEDDING while not planning to have a MARRIAGE. We should not shun couples who amicably want to hold onto their vows even in adversity. Twenty-plus years
of marriage from The Smiths is just as abnormal in Hollywood as it is for Will Smith to ever have any disruption in his
30-plus-year career. Once you go before God and guest in Holy matrimony, your vows don’t stop at “I do.” Now there’s the
“I Will.”
Editorial by L. Marc Williams
