Everyone is talking about the Smith/Rock dust up so I thought I would add my two cents. I will admit it is great television but, other than that, its significance to greater world seems limited to the excitement you would get from watching a fist fight at your favorite drinking establishment. A little thrill to talk about at the water cooler and nothing more. Or so I thought. It seems to be about much much more. Toxic Masculinity. Culture of Violence. Anti-Woman. Racist. I keep thinking am I missing something? Is it really that meaningful?
People were shocked. Really? I just don’t believe it. Shocked, you say. We are talking about actors living in a reality television world. Everyone knows the game here. Do something, anything, to be noticed. If you can get on a reality television show who knows how far you will go. This only intensifies the pressure on your regular actor to be noticed. Decorum isn’t in the handbook. For example, if a typical male was invited to attend the Academy Awards, what would you expect him to wear. I am betting most guys would choose a nice conservative black tuxedo. But who would notice that. Better to choose a discarded Ice Capade outfit and why bother with a shirt when you look like a god? Poor Timothee Chalamet. How could he know that the discussions about his naked chest would last a mere hour or so before the topic of conversation became the fist fight on the Academy stage. But is any of this shocking. Remember the 2016 Republican Presidential Debates. The candidates ruminated on Donald Trump’s dick size. These are Republicans, mind you, the purveyors of traditional morality and Christianity, not those wacky Democrats. If sober Republicans cannot maintain decorum, a group of drunk actors can hardly be expected to do better.
But the violence. I do get it. Really, I do. Violence is not the answer. It causes more problems than it solves and should be discouraged. On the other hand, a man is publicly making fun of another man’s wife. The mans wife is understandably sensitive about her hair because she suffers from a disease that has caused her hair to fall out. Smith wants to protect his wife from embarrassment. And, yes, I know, a fist fight on the Academy Award stage with the whole world watching is hardly the best path to save her from embarrassment but then you would also have to assume that he didn’t know, at least at first, that he was going to punch Rock. The decision to punch Rock came in the moment and not with much thought put into the repercussions.
It was the wrong thing to do. But what was it the right thing to do? As far as I can tell, Smith had a bunch of bad choices. Choice 1. He could sit quietly, maybe shoot Rock a mean glare, while his wife was humiliated publicly by another man. I think a lot of men would feel badly about this approach. A man should protect his wife from such behavior. Yes, you can have a press conference the next day saying how badly your wife was treated and how Rock owes your wife an apology. It looks bad. See the following meme comparing Smith’s actions to Ted Cruz’s tepid response to Donald Trump saying Melania was better looking than Cruz’ wife. https://americasbestpics.com/picture/ted-cruz-s-wife-after-seeing-will-smith-defend-jada-QXtoer0R9
Choice 2 is to make a scene which Smith initially tried until he decided to go further. It is better than sitting on your hands and smiling but Smith screaming obscenities at a deeply confused Rock wasn’t exactly a strong look or a sane look. Everyone in the audience is wondering why is Smith yelling at Rock like a crazy man. It, also, would have left Rock at the podium where he could continue his riff and could potentially escalate the jokes to making fun of Smith’s unhinged behavior.
Choice 3 is deck him so he will stopping talking. What’s a man to do?
Smith was reacting in the moment and didn’t give rational thought time to kick in. Faced with these horrible choices, Smith decided to punch Rock. Again, it was a bad choice but it may have been the best one to make with so little time or thought put into the decision. This is why government has created all these laws differentiating the penalties for various violent acts, some violent acts, while discouraged, are more understandable than others. Smith’s reaction to Rock’s monologue falls into that category of wrong but understandable. And, it is up to Rock to now press charges. At this point, Rock appears willing to forget the whole thing and move on. Smith should be appropriately grateful to Rock and move on himself.
Keep in mind, it may be an act. I wouldn’t be the least bit surprised if it were. But, then this makes Smith response even more intriguing. After cold calculated thinking about the performance he is about to give, Smith decides that the best response is smacking Rock. Smith knows the right way to act. He knows his audience and he knows what will satisfy them. So a punch it is then. How would you like to be remembered as the man who punched his wife’s tormentor in order to make him stop or as the man who politely asks his wife tormentor to cut it out? I know it is not rational nor right but I think I would rather be remembered for the punch.
Ultimately, all that matters, is does this make great television. It certainly does. This really puts the pressure on next year’s Oscar’s nominees though. They are going to have to thing big to top Smith’s act. I am betting that a losing actor will tackle the winning actor on his way to the podium. With a minute or two of wrestling in the aisle before it is broken up by some beautiful person. Perhaps if there is blood, Timothee Chalamet could remove his shirt, tie it around the wound in order to stop the bleeding. Now that would be good television.
Mind Stewing, Fingers Typing 
Smith thought about it enough to open hand slap Rock rather than closed fist punch him, With Smith’s training as a boxer, and his greater size-Smith’s slap would have HURT. It’s amazing that Rock both stayed on his feet and was able to continue presenting afterward. There are no winners here. Rock comes off as insensitive for having made the joke, and Smith comes off as violent, patriarchal, and with poor impulse control. Lots of comedians do jokes in poor taste, so Rock’s is the more forgivable offense-especially if he did not know about Jada’s condition and was making light of what he though was a fashion choice. Smith’s behavior is more problematic. If the Academy doesn’t publicly punish him, it sends a message that violence is tolerated. They Academy’s board of directors will vote on sanctions against Smith in 2 weeks and I will be watching.
I agree that Smith’s violence is more culpable than Rock’s insensitivity. What I am saying is that Smith had nothing but bad choices. If he did nothing, he would look like a bad husband if also a rational human being. See Senator Cruz after Trump disparaged his wife. Cruz looked like a bad husband, hence the meme where Kermit is looking wistfully out the window thinking about how Will Smith defended his wife. This is one of the few instances where patriarchal society punishes men. A man shouldn’t let another man saying hurtful things to his wife. If this same thing happened in a bar, I’m pretty sure there would be fist flying too. So what is the proper response for a man who hears another man trash talking his wife? Doing nothing looks awful, confronting the man risks a fist fight any way, and decking the other man makes you look violent and could result in prison however your wife knows that you are crazy about her, and other men learn that there is a risk in trash talking your wife. She may not like it but she may appreciate it nonetheless. It is impossible situation.