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Evening Standard
Evening Standard
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Cal Byrne

Talking Point: What do you think about Will Smith slapping Chris Rock?

Actor Will Smith made sure that everyone would only be talking about one thing post-Oscars ceremony when he marched up to the stage and hit Chris Rock after the comedian had made a joke about his wife’s haircut, with Jada Pinkett Smith having previously spoken about her struggles with alopecia. It’s the latest incident in a testy relationship between the pair, with Rock previously making a joke at Smith’s expense during the 2016 iteration of the Academy Awards.

Both stars involved seem to be coming out of the incident badly, with people taking to social media to pronounce the 57-year-old comedians joke in bad taste, but that Smith’s reaction was over the top – and bringing violence into the equation is not the answer.

Director Judd Apatow called the incident “pure out of control rage and violence” on Twitter, adding that the family “are not freshman in the world of Hollywood and comedy. He lost his mind.”

Comedian Kathy Griffin wrote: “Let me tell you something, it’s a very bad practice to walk up on stage and physically assault a Comedian. Now we all have to worry about who wants to be the next Will Smith in comedy clubs and theaters.”

Will and Jada’s son Jaden Smith tweeted, “And That’s How We Do It”, later posting “My Dads speech made me cry”.

What did you think about Will Smith slapping Chris Rock? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below for the chance to be featured on the ES website tomorrow.

Friday’s Talking Point: How do you feel about Jamaica becoming a Republic?

Outofmanyonepeople wrote: “I would expect the present government to clearly set out the advantages and disadvantages of retaining the status quo versus becoming a republic in order that Jamaicans may make an informed decision.”

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