Will Smith is the Magic Johnson of actors. Like Magic he parlayed a strong skill set, a thousand watt smile and an image of infinite affability, into fame and fortune. He slapped the affable image away at the Oscars.
Given his height and weight advantage, Will punched down. Chis with his G.I Jane joke did not. Jada is not a civilian. She is an actress with a social media show that discusses the most intimate details of her marriage. As half of a power couple she was sitting in the front row.
The G.I. Jane joke met all the criteria for an improvised Academy Awards joke. It was funny, it was movie related, and given Jada's army green dress, spot on. Rock was the consummate professional, continuing on with his award presentation.
Will was sexist and wallowed in self pity, and misplaced self righteousness. His wife is an adult capable of fighting her own battles. To step in as her male savior is to deny her equality. When your wife openly talks about her affair on her show, and you are one of, if not, the highest paid actors in Hollywood, you elicit little empathy for your social media tribulations. Fame and fortune have a price.
Finally, Smith overshadowed the Oscar for the socially and musically significant best documentary, Summer of Soul. A deep, hard working black man had his magic moment shortened and slighted by an emotionally shallow, member of the privileged class.
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