The Slap Heard Around The World | An Interracial Couple's Perspective

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Let's just dive right in...

So unless you've been living under a rock, you've probably heard of the, now, infamous "slap heard around the world" at the 2022 Oscars when Will Smith walks up on stage and slaps the 🐶💩 out of the host, Chris Rock, after cracking a tasteless joke in reference to his wife, Jada's, hair.

Shown here:

👋 Hey Fam-Lei 👋

Lady XO here!

I want to dissect this from the standpoint of an interracial couple...

First, I think it is important to note that a man of Will Smith's caliber and track record of excellence would absolutely NOT have reacted so emotionally if there wasn't some previous resentment developed that most of us aren't aware.

There is always a reason, (even if not a GOOD one) when people react so explosively.

Let's look at the previous relationship (in the video below) between Will, Chris, and Jada and see where things may have went sour.

As you can see in the video, there was some obvious previous jabs at the couple from Rock prior to the Oscars that might have been the motive to such built up animosity toward the comedian.

So what's my verdict?  You ask?

It was a tasteless joke and sometimes the action doesn't warrant the re-action but consequences are consequences and you definitely should expect backlash of some sort when you PUBLICLY humiliate someone's wife's illness on his big award win day!

J/S

Those of you who think that Rock didn't know better?

Rock may not have known that Jada had alopecia but...  He knew what it was and the seriousness of black women when it comes to their hair (or lack of).

Yes.  He was fully aware of black hair culture as he recently put out a documentary in 2009 called "Good Hair".  

In the documentary, Chris was seen interviewing a woman with alopecia (like Jada) who gave a heartfelt explanation about the nature of her illness and the hair loss associated with it.  (Seen here:)

It's like, 

  DUDE...  

You wouldn't point out the bald headed kid in the audience and poke fun at his CANCER, would you?

I guess Jada & Will are invincible?

So it's okay in THIS case?

I think one slap in the face deserves another...

I guess verbal abuse and physical abuse is viewed differently when the abuser SMILES in the face of their victim?

Right?

With that being said; I still don't believe that violence in any form is excusable.  Yet, it's understandable in this writer's opinion.

As my friend (who wishes to remain anonymous so we'll call him Joe) jokingly said,

"I'm from the 70's...  I come from the school of I-Wish-A-Brotha-WOULD disrespect my wife on national television! That was just a gentleman's slap, compared to what I would have done AFTER THE SHOW!"

Adding to it...

"BUT!  I'm also from a day where a black man knew BETTER than to piss off the white man at a white man's party!  I would be scared for my life right now if I were Will...  They're going to come for him somehow..."

I asked Joe out of curiosity, "What is a gentleman's slap"?

And he proceeded to remind me of a time back in the days of old where a disrespected gentleman would take off his glove and smack another gentleman across the face with it before announcing a duel... 

(Similar to what is staged here:)

Just food for thought...

I think it's noteworthy and just quirky that Will SLAPPED him instead of hit him...

As though he didn't want to FIGHT just for the disrespect on his family to stop.

Over the years, Will and Jada have suffered a great deal of scrutiny from the public in regards to their relationship and extramarital affairs and I believe that this was just "the straw that broke the camel's back."

*A Moot Question* that was raised by the public asked why Smith didn't act so explosively in reaction to the news of Jada's entanglement with singer August Alsina?

And to that,

I answer...

Because hurt and anger are two different emotions...

Black men aren't generally scared of harm on themselves, therefore will not protect their OWN honor with as much voracity as they would their family.

I believe that Jeannie Mai probably took the words right out of my mouth when she gave her opinion about it on her show, The Real.  

(Seen here:)