Since I first heard of this event, I thought that it was probably staged. Chris Rock's media flame has been fading for years, and something like this is exactly the kind of easy set-up that will get a lot of media attention.

The more I learn about it, the more I think it was staged, but now I think it was for more reasons than just giving Chris Rock's career a jolt with a defibrillator. I'd forgotten that NOBODY watches the Oscars anymore, and it seems this little incident jumped their ratings by over 50%. That is a HUUUGE payoff for a 10 second stunt...

But all of that aside, I approve of everything that happened in this altercation. Comedians tell offensive jokes, knowing that someone will get offended. Maybe Chris Rock didn't think anyone would get THAT offended, but it's a risk every comedian is going to take, if they ever take a stage. Some people are going to get violent when offended, so comedians should learn to either duck, or take a punch. Will Smith didn't sucker punch anybody... he telegraphed that punch from the time he got out of seat. Chris Rock should have seen that coming, and just ducked, if he didn't want to get hit.

Will Smith defended his wife's honor, in a somewhat shocking, but completely harmless way. Chris Rock took it like a man, and went on with the show. Everyone got everything off their chests, and life quickly went back to normal. As it should.

I think that slap, and Chris Rock's reaction to it, were the best example of normal, healthy behavior that I've seen on television in decades. I'm a fan of both gentlemen, and have been for years. Chris Rock is one of my top 5 all time favorite comedians, and Will Smith is one of the best entertainers Hollywood has ever lifted up. I applaud them both for showing us how sensible people behave.

😉😁