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Will Smith just threw a $50m punch
- Thread starter Biggbass
- Start date
That was my first thought also. Can't imagine how nice of a resort the place would be.
In the U.S. actual consequences, just like taxes, are only for the 'little people' (like most of us).
I happen to like and respect Will Smith for a multitude of reasons over my lifetime of coming to know him from a distance. He has made me laugh, cry, smile, frown, and many other human emotions.
It would not be right for me to 'freeze him in time' based on the recent events just as I would hope another person does not 'freeze me in time' based on a momentary lack of reason on my part.
Carry on Mr. Smith. Thanks for all you've done for me.
-Mike
It would not be right for me to 'freeze him in time' based on the recent events just as I would hope another person does not 'freeze me in time' based on a momentary lack of reason on my part.
Carry on Mr. Smith. Thanks for all you've done for me.
-Mike
Alkali Ike
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Alkali Ike
Gold Supporting Member
- Jan 1, 2011
- 2,855
- 15,666
- Disclosures
- I never actually learned to play very well
I knew you'd be a voice of reason. Admittedly I've had my own fun playing up this incident for cynical humor, but at the core I genuinely feel a little sorry for Smith and I can totally get what he's currently going through.
I think people get so worked up about celebrity meltdowns because it makes them more relatable.
What do you know... they're just as screwed up as we are. They just have more money.
What do you know... they're just as screwed up as we are. They just have more money.
So what you're saying is Will Smith isn't actually facing any consequences?
I'm saying that Mr. Smith has not so far faced the same consequences for his actions that most people would face, and is unlikely to.
The police on the scene did not shoot him, tase him, or pummel him to the ground with their flashlights. Mr. Smith was not arrested, transported to jail, fingerprinted, booked or (so far) indicted for the obvious crime of battery. Instead the AMPAS gave him one of the world's most prestigious awards topped off with a standing ovation. Instead of choking down moldy bologna sandwiches at the county cooler, he's retired to a luxurious spa to get over the trauma of being criticized. And in less than four years, some studio will cast him in another major movie.
The reference is to a famous quote by New York real estate developer Leona Helmsly "We don't pay taxes; only the little people pay taxes". It was more-or-less true in 1989 as well as 2022.
Personally I pay little-to-no attention to celebrities and didn't see the slap in real time. Only turned on the Oscars for the last ten minutes to see if 'Dune' would get Best Picture. But the fact that the very wealthy very rarely pay any real, visceral, non-monetary penalty for their misdeeds is a particular sore point for me.
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Alkali Ike
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According to police, if Chris Rock refused to press charges, and police didn’t witness it in real time, there are no grounds for an arrest or charges.
You may want to check the facts and also have Urgent Care take a look at that chip on your shoulder.
But I get your point. Had Rock pressed charges and Smith were arrested, he would have received white glove treatment. That’s the system we have.
But that’s not the actual situation.
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No one is a snapshot. I feel bad for all parties concerned. Initially, especially, there was a lot of excuse making for Will Smith, when he clearly went over the line into physical violence, which I think drew a lot of (reasonable, to my mind) pushback against the notion that his actions were right and justified. We do, after all, have laws against exactly such conduct (whether those laws are enforced in some particular case ... or not ...). But the fact that he acted badly in that way shouldn't forever brand him as a pariah - we live and learn, and hopefully he is learning.
The victim himself, Chris Rock, didn't want Smith punished legally, so I'd be ready to let it go at that as well, even if there was preferential celebrity treatment (and there was
). An ugly incident, but we've seen worse. Not the end of the world. And shouldn't be the end of Will Smith's career, imo. Give it a while, Will, show the public some humility, I think forgiveness will come. He who is without sin, let him cast ... Will Smith
In California police have the state press charges if the victim doesn't wish to and they do not need to witness the event. This was a change that took place after the OJ incident.
Alkali Ike
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It’s extremely unlikely that a local police dept can MAKE the state do anything. They can recommend, but they can’t issue orders to the state. Correct me if I’m wrong. The OJ thing is a whole different situation not even remotely related to this. For example there weren’t millions of witnesses.
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Gator McKlusky : [Upon meeting Sheriff Connors] Only two things in the world I'm scared of.
Sheriff Connors : Only scared o' two things? What's that?
Gator McKlusky : Women and the po-lice.
Sheriff Connors : Only scared o' two things? What's that?
Gator McKlusky : Women and the po-lice.
Yes, Chris Rock declined to press charges, as has been mentioned by a number of us here in recent posts. ^_^
Alkali Ike
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