After the slap heard round the world, I must admit there\u2019s one thing I still can\u2019t wrap my brain around. It\u2019s just conflicting. I don\u2019t understand.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Please don\u2019t assume I understand why Will Smith got up and hit, slapped, whatever-you-want-to-call-it presenter Chris Rock. He was presumably offended at the ridicule of his wife; we do a lot of foolish things when we quickly assume a position of offense.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
All sorts of editorials have since run rampant\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n
From\u2026 how Smith should have been arrested\u2026 violence is wrong\u2026 Smith \u201cstole\u201d the Williams sisters\u2019 story\u2026 his succeeding resignation from the Academy\u2026 how this hurts his family brand\u2026 what wife Jada thinks\u2026 what we should all know about alopecia\u2026 the defense of black women\u2026 how a racist society is to blame\u2026 how toxic femininity is to blame\u2026 how former Pres. Donald Trump is to blame\u2026 how Chris Rock is to blame\u2026 how Rock is processing the situation now\u2026<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n And no doubt cumulating in yesterday\u2019s LA Times<\/em> editorial entitled \u201cEverybody has an opinion on Will Smith. Why the slap resonated.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Still, not what most fits on my things-that-make-you-go-hmmm list.<\/p>\n\n\n\n After the slap while Rock was presenting the Oscar to the best \u201cDocumentary Feature,\u201d two more awards were acknowledged prior to \u201cBest Actor,\u201d which Smith won for his portrayal of the father of Venus and Serena Williams.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Then\u2026<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Even with the stunning slap fresh in their minds, the audience gave Smith a standing ovation.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Envision that with me for a moment. Maybe no more than 30 minutes passes between incident and acknowledgement. The audience still<\/em> cheers. On their feet. Extended applause.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Hear no judgment from me; that\u2019s not the point. I\u2019m sure it was difficult to know how to act in the present moment; and remember: most of these persons are actors.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n But the disconnect comes from a collective group of people who for some reason, increasingly more, oft feel empowered to play a sort of societal moral compass. Actors frequently use their stage and celebrity to shame or belittle persons who hold diverse opinion, not truly valuing those who are different than they.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Maybe the issue is us. Maybe we\u2019ve come as a society to celebrate celebrity so much, that we\u2019ve been lax in examining the character of the one who feels so empowered. Maybe, just maybe, we\u2019ve confused celebrity with credibility. Both have value, but they are distinctly different.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Let us be certain to not suggest all celebrities fit into the above, potential hypocrisy\u2026 Sandra Bullock, Queen Latifah, and Denzel Washington, to name a brief few. I\u2019m not aware of any moment they\u2019ve felt justified in their adulthood to publicly shame those of any<\/em> perspective.<\/p>\n\n\n\n And to be clear, celebrity or not, we hold a lot of perspective \u2014 just as the LA Times<\/em> editorial page suggested. What\u2019s also true is that not every perspective or opinion needs to be shared. Also, celebrity or not.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Actors indeed have a gift. Their talent and expertise is in entertainment.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Such is a keen reminder. Entertainment is one thing. Influence is another.<\/p>\n\n\n\n When an actor then attempts to influence us in the socio-economic-political arena, let us remember that it\u2019s ok that they, too, hold strong opinion, but their credibility is not established by their celebrity\u2026 What\u2019s their expertise? How thoroughly have they researched the issue? What diverse voices are they listening to? Are they living in a likeminded bubble? And in arguably the number one credibility killer, are there any they feel justified to shame?<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n No disrespect, friends.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I\u2019m simply conflicted that celebrities found reason to stand.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Respectfully\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n AR<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" After the slap heard round the world, I must admit there\u2019s one thing I still can\u2019t wrap my brain around. It\u2019s just conflicting. I don\u2019t understand. Please don\u2019t assume I understand why Will Smith got up and hit, slapped, whatever-you-want-to-call-it presenter Chris Rock. He was presumably offended at the ridicule of his wife; we do … <\/p>\n