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Will Smith just threw a $50m punch

#121
Chris Rock's joke wasn't funny. Nobody laughed. That's the litmus test of an offensive joke, for a comedian. If the joke gets a laugh, then it didn't really cross the line. But if it doesn't, and makes some people gasp instead ... get ready for some rotten tomatoes. But NOT physical assault. Will Smith's ego driven overreaction was what really crossed the line. Oscar has been moribund for several years, maybe glad to have some action and commotion ... though Smith's actions are being "investigated", whatever that means. What investigated? The whole world saw what happened.
;)
 
#126
J_Bass said:
"

Health? We're not exactly talking about pancreatic cancer, are we? The joke is about the fact that Jada Smith is physically similar to the fictional character GI Jane. I remember that GI Jane is a heroine who crosses gender barriers and ends up saving a companion in a war scenario. Does this seem like an offensive comparison to you? A few years ago, Laurinda Alves wrote a text in which she thanked Ronaldo Fenómeno for having his hair shaved. It was useful in the pediatric oncology ward, because the doctors could tell the kids that they had lost their hair because of treatments that were similar to Ronaldo. Being compared to heroes isn't usually problematic.
"
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I don't understand the reasoning here. Would it be OK to make a joke about somebody's facial birthmarks as long as you link it to Mikhail Gorbachev?

sleddogn said:
The Academy knows Rock's schtick...and that Will would be getting an award...and history of Rock making fun of them....they knew what they were getting...not here to justify his joke, but i don't think it was all that bad in the big picture, and we still don't know if he actually knew of her condition with the hair, etc...
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Everybody in that circle knew. My wife knew and she doesn't even follow the Hollywood buzz closely.

48thStreetCustom said:
No it's not.
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BadSanta1281 said:
I'm over it.:dead:

Now I'm looking forward to Lady Gaga and Adele having a cat fight at the Grammys this Sunday.:wideyed:

Or maybe Lil Nas X against Justin Bieber...:roflmao:
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Cage fight. Winner takes all. :roflmao:
 
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#127
WG Plum said:
I went to college with a guy who had severe alopecia - he had zero hair. No eyebrows, no body hair, nothing. His situation was completely and totally different from my own male pattern baldness.
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48th Street is technically correct, but he's being a bit pedantic.

In strict terms the word "alopecia" does simply mean baldness. The disease that Jada has is more properly called "alopecia areata," which is the medical name that distinguishes it from more common forms of baldness -- which we laypersons all usually just call "baldness," and when someone who isn't a medical professional uses alopecia for baldness it's generally understood to be shorthand for alopecia areata.

So, you're both sorta right here, it's just a matter of how pedantic you want to get about the use of verbal shorthand.
 
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#128
Gorn said:
I would’ve thought he’s clever enough to come up with a good comeback. He’s not a dumb guy. That’s what’s so weird about this.
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Agreed. It was a monumentally inelegant loss of composure and self-control in front of a large number of people. Smith looks like a jackass and these few seconds of weakness will be part of his brand forever. I'm sure he wishes he could have this one back.
 
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#129
I couldn't believe Tiffany Haddish thought it was fantastic, & that his son, Jaden, must have as well.
That whole family is unremorseful, & his apology is just damage control that came far too late.
 
#130
gln1955 said:
I don't understand the reasoning here. Would it be OK to make a joke about somebody's facial birthmarks as long as you link it to Mikhail Gorbachev?



Everybody in that circle knew. My wife knew and she doesn't even follow the Hollywood buzz closely.





Cage fight. Winner takes all. :roflmao:
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I don't know.

It's not relevant, in my opinion. It's a joke.

It's not making fun. It's making a joke.


But it would be a good response.

I read of acting like a coward, Will Smith could've said that in his speech, or could've used words to bash on Rock, who has every right to make the joke. As Smith has every right to not like it.
But he does not have the right to assault another person. Never.
 
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#135
Makes me all the more glad I got rid of cable (no antenna either) about 9 years ago. I just found out about it late last night on YouTube. Even if I did have cable I never would have watched the Oscars anyway. More important things are going to be concerned with.
 
#139
J_Bass said:
Don't you have something in your Constitution about free speech?


What about these 2 words:
Charlie Hebdo.

Ring a bell?
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That's got nothing to do with it, and I won't take the religious/political bait. What I will say is that I stand by the idea that the butt of a joke is the one who gets to say whether it's a joke or 'making fun'. This is a separate issue from the slap, and I'm not even saying whether Rock's joke was in poor taste or not.
 
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