CHECK OUT WeThePeople.store and WeThePeople.wine for holiday gifts and awesome snarky swag!
“The View” co-host Whoopi Goldberg suggested during a discussion Tuesday that the color of actor Will Smith’s skin contributed to the decision by the Oscars’ staff to allow him to remain at the awards show Sunday even after he’d slapped Chris Rock.
“The reason they didn’t go and take him out is because that would have been another 15-20 minute explanation of why we’re taking the black man out five seconds before they’re about to decide whether he’s won an Oscar or not,” she said.
She said that she supported the decision to let Smith stay given his mental state.
“Everybody is aware the reason people got up and went over to [Smith] is because I think a lot of people thought, oh my God, is he having a break[down]. Do we need to get him out? What do we need to do ?” she explained.
“I believe [Oscars producer] Will Packer made the right decision. He said, let’s get through the rest of this so we can deal with it wholeheartedly. So that’s what went on.”
Goldberg made the remark during a wider discussion about whether or not Smith should face “consequences” for his misbehavior during the Oscars. Co-host Sunny Hostin made it clear that she thought he should. And, indeed, reports have emerged that official “consequences” are indeed being considered for Smith:
BREAKING: The Academy announced that it condemns the actions of Will Smith and is launching a review to consider actions and consequences against him.
— BrooklynDad_Defiant! (@mmpadellan) March 28, 2022
“I don’t want to pile on, but it’s clear that something is going on. … Maybe, you know, he needs more therapy. Maybe he needs more introspection. I also though think that there has to be consequences to this,” Hostin said.
“I’m thrilled that he apologized to Chris. I think that was really necessary. It was really necessary publicly. And I … think it’s very important for us to believe in redemption — not necessarily cancel culture, but consequence culture. So I do wonder what happens next.”
Hostin’s argument prompted Goldberg to note that “nobody is OK with what happened — nobody.” But, she continued, people are interested to know what’d inspired Smith’s rage.
While the perceived reason for the slap was Rock’s joke about Smith’s wife, Jada Pinkett Smith, many suspect there was something deeper at the root of it.
“What’s happening are people are now starting to calm down and say, wait a minute, what could have triggered this? That’s what I said. Could have been [something that happened] four years ago. Could have been anything,” Goldberg said.
She’d likely meant six — not four — years ago, when Rock had mocked both Smith and his wife during the 2016 Oscars:
Let’s not forget Chris Rock’s opening monologue from the 2016 Oscars where he shades Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith. #Oscars pic.twitter.com/DkUPHXVDyE
— Chris Witherspoon (@WitherspoonC) March 28, 2022
Goldberg then explained the reason why Smith was allowed to remain at the award ceremony.
The discussion comes amid a society-wide debate over the racial aspect mentioned by Goldberg. Some blunt critics attribute Smith being allowed to stay to what they’ve termed his “black privilege.”
Look:
Sydney Potier always kept his cool and dignity as a black man actor. He would have been disappointed with @willsmith attitude of entitlement, rudeness and #blackprivilege. Going on stage 👋🏾 someone is WRONG!
Nelson Mandela always kept his cool. Very sad for #BlackExcellence
— Lady Mariéme Jamme – She/Her🦋🇸🇳🇬🇧 (@mjamme) March 29, 2022
So a man gets up on stage, punches the host of the show in the face, curses him out, sits down & then wins an award like nothing happened.
Man, that’s some white privilege right there, #Oscars.
Oh wait… Will Smith is Black.
— Lavern Spicer (@lavern_spicer) March 28, 2022
If it had been Benedict Cumberbatch who’d thrown the punch last night, he’d be in hiding (or worse), the BLM mob would be dusting off their placards, taking to the streets and setting everything they could on fire (in a mostly peaceful way)
Does Black privilege exist?
— Laurence Fox ✝️ 🚛 (@LozzaFox) March 28, 2022
It’s called Black Privilege
— Mark Dice (@MarkDice) March 28, 2022
Even far-left comedian Michael Rapaport has expressed shock over how Smith was treated.
“If it had been Jerry Seinfeld and Ben Affleck, and that happened at the Oscars, you think that Ben Affleck would have gotten a standing ovation 15 minutes later when he was getting his best actor award? Hell to the no!” Rapaport said in a social media video clip posted Monday.
“People would have been like, boooo, you f–king asshole, what a f–king d–k man, why would do that, bro? Boo! They would have literally booed him. All these social media sites — New York magazine, all that hipster [stuff] — [would have been like] cancel Ben Affleck, he’s such a f–king d–k man, why did he slap Jerry? What a d–k. It’s just a joke!”
Listen (*Language warning):
If Ben Affleck slapped Jerry Seinfeld what would happen?
Sooooo much to discuss on a rare Monday Morning @iamrapaport here:https://t.co/zftGp0jA5z pic.twitter.com/IIyUmwHukd— MichaelRapaport (@MichaelRapaport) March 28, 2022
In addition to being allowed to remain at the Oscars, Smith received loud applause when accepting his award, and afterward, some establishment media outlets rushed to downplay his actions.
Writers and editors can be contacted at [email protected] with feedback, tips, or corrections.
V. Saxena is a staff writer with a decade of experience as a professional writer, and a lifetime of experience as an avid news junkie. He holds a degree in computer technology from Purdue University. Saxena also contributes to BizPac Review.
Comment
We have no tolerance for comments containing violence, racism, profanity, vulgarity, doxing, or discourteous behavior. If a comment is spam, instead of replying to it please click the ∨ icon below and to the right of that comment. Thank you for partnering with us to maintain fruitful conversation.