Will Smith... yea or nay

[Guy Smiley]

remove duplicates from string

[Guy Smiley]

You follow white nationalists on Twitter?

Yep, that’s clearly what I said - I follow right wing white nationalists, and am clearly a Nazi. Fresh off the PR boat I see.

Dude, you walk into the doorframe, I'm in the next suburb.

[Blackmac]

You follow white nationalists on Twitter?

That is a pretty piss poor response.

[Uncle fester]

We need some evidence on the missus to make a clear decision on this.

[Blackmac]

Here why aren't we talking about the real issues here and the fact his missus doesn't look like she has alopecia but just has a shaved head. Was that the joke?

Must admit that was my first thought. No sign of any proper alopecia patches at all.

[Biffer]

Here why aren't we talking about the real issues here and the fact his missus doesn't look like she has alopecia but just has a shaved head. Was that the joke?

Must admit that was my first thought. No sign of any proper alopecia patches at all.

Are people actually this dumb? She’s shaved her head because she has alopecia.

[Gumboot]

Not sure how Smith won the best actor award tbh. Such a cliched performance in such an average film.

[Gumboot]

More a shit film than an average film on reflection.

[Line6 HXFX]

Violence is never the answer.

You hear of so many people being killed by punches or being hit.

Learn to play the guitar, fuck fighting.

Let's all have guitar duals, like wat real men do..

[average joe]

What's alopecia? It sounds filthy.

[MoonBatto]

The embarrassed for Smith option should have been there.

[Glaston]

Question is, how does it rank on the BCM scale?

[SaintK]

What's alopecia? It sounds filthy.

Hair loss (alopecia) can affect just your scalp or your entire body, and it can be temporary or permanent. It can be the result of heredity, hormonal changes, medical conditions or a normal part of aging

Pretty sad really as it can effect any adults or child at any time.
I played rugby with a very good wing forward who didn't have a hair on his body from the age of 10!! Took him until his late 20's or so to get rid of the ridiculous har piece he wore. That was a very brave move indeed

[Jimmy Smallsteps]

Fun piece of Oscars revisionism I heard this week was that Will Ferrell should have won a statue for Elf.

Apparently his performance was amazing but given the genre he never stood a chance.

I'm not sure I've watched it all the way through but I do think the man has serious chops as an actor.

[Sinkers]

What's alopecia? It sounds filthy.

It’s a group of mountains in America I think

[Tichtheid]

Violence is never the answer.

You hear of so many people being killed by punches or being hit.

Learn to play the guitar, fuck fighting.

Let's all have guitar duals, like wat real men do..

I loved that film at the time.

No idea how it would hold up now as a movie but the music is good.
Villa Lobos on a Tele?

[Sinkers]

What's alopecia? It sounds filthy.

Hair loss (alopecia) can affect just your scalp or your entire body, and it can be temporary or permanent. It can be the result of heredity, hormonal changes, medical conditions or a normal part of aging

Pretty sad really as it can effect any adults or child at any time.
I played rugby with a very good wing forward who didn't have a hair on his body from the age of 10!! Took him until his late 20's or so to get rid of the ridiculous har piece he wore. That was a very brave move indeed

When it’s at its most extensive you have no eyelashes or eyebrows, nose hairs etc. Leaves you very open to viruses, allergies, things like hay fever. An old mate had it that bad and really used to suffer.

[sockwithaticket]

What's alopecia? It sounds filthy.

Hair loss (alopecia) can affect just your scalp or your entire body, and it can be temporary or permanent. It can be the result of heredity, hormonal changes, medical conditions or a normal part of aging

Pretty sad really as it can effect any adults or child at any time.
I played rugby with a very good wing forward who didn't have a hair on his body from the age of 10!! Took him until his late 20's or so to get rid of the ridiculous har piece he wore. That was a very brave move indeed

When it’s at its most extensive you have no eyelashes or eyebrows, nose hairs etc. Leaves you very open to viruses, allergies, things like hay fever. An old mate had it that bad and really used to suffer.

Frontman of the band InMe got alopecia fairly young and had it to that extent. Saw him do some of his solo stuff a few years ago (tagged along with a mate who thinks the guy's brilliant) and he performed the whole set with his eyes screwed shut which struck me as really bizarre on the face of it. It dawned on me, though, that without eyelashes or eyebrows there's basically nothing stopping sweat running into his eyes.

It'll be about 7 years ago now, but I taught a kid for whom it kicked in around year 9. His classmates being as supportive as they were was a really pleasant surprise, I thought he'd suffer significant bullying for it given how some of the kids could be about other things.

[sockwithaticket]

Not sure how Smith won the best actor award tbh. Such a cliched performance in such an average film.

If the Oscars actually reward the best work of the last year it's more by accident than design* and that's been the case for as long as I can remember. It's all about lobbying and whose turn it is. A lot of the voters barely watch a fraction of the movies up for consideration.

*In the main categories at least, the technical awards often have a lot more justification behind their winners.

[average joe]

Fok, now I'm starting to think I might have it. Never ask medical questions on the web folks.

[Biffer]

What's alopecia? It sounds filthy.

Biffer has it

Nah, I'm just a normal baldy bastard.

[Blackmac]

Here why aren't we talking about the real issues here and the fact his missus doesn't look like she has alopecia but just has a shaved head. Was that the joke?

Must admit that was my first thought. No sign of any proper alopecia patches at all.

Are people actually this dumb? She’s shaved her head because she has alopecia.

Do try not to always come across as such an arrogant prick. I suffered from alopecia for about 3 years in my 30's and well know what it looks like. It's patches of total hair loss which are as clear as day even when you shave your head. She has clearly got an even head of short hair shaved. Apparently her alopecia consists of one 2cm patch on the top of her head which would easily be covered with her hair.

[Blackmac]

What's alopecia? It sounds filthy.

Hair loss (alopecia) can affect just your scalp or your entire body, and it can be temporary or permanent. It can be the result of heredity, hormonal changes, medical conditions or a normal part of aging

Pretty sad really as it can effect any adults or child at any time.
I played rugby with a very good wing forward who didn't have a hair on his body from the age of 10!! Took him until his late 20's or so to get rid of the ridiculous har piece he wore. That was a very brave move indeed

I suffered it for three years in my 30's as a result of my immune system going haywire after a really severe bout of flu. Only hair I didn't lose was my pubes and armpit hair. I also ended up with some mean looking Jonah Lomu partly shaved eyebrows. Also lost quite a lot of my fingernails and had teeth problems.

Seemed to sort itself out on its own except for my beard. I used to need to shave about twice a day but now it would take me a few weeks to get anything near a beard.

[SaintK]

What's alopecia? It sounds filthy.

Hair loss (alopecia) can affect just your scalp or your entire body, and it can be temporary or permanent. It can be the result of heredity, hormonal changes, medical conditions or a normal part of aging

Pretty sad really as it can effect any adults or child at any time.
I played rugby with a very good wing forward who didn't have a hair on his body from the age of 10!! Took him until his late 20's or so to get rid of the ridiculous har piece he wore. That was a very brave move indeed

I suffered it for three years in my 30's as a result of my immune system going haywire after a really severe bout of flu. Only hair I didn't lose was my pubes and armpit hair. I also ended up with some mean looking Jonah Lomu partly shaved eyebrows. Also lost quite a lot of my fingernails and had teeth problems.

Seemed to sort itself out on its own except for my beard. I used to need to shave about twice a day but now it would take me a few weeks to get anything near a beard.

Glad to hear you got through it.
Good to see it doesn't stop some people who suffer from it winning gold medals

[inactionman]

My wife's cousin has it and it makes him look like a Bond villain, unfortunate as he's one of the nicest blokes you could meet.

There are apparently various shades of it, wife's cousin has pretty much complete loss, but I know some of it can be pretty localised.

[Biffer]

Must admit that was my first thought. No sign of any proper alopecia patches at all.

Are people actually this dumb? She’s shaved her head because she has alopecia.

Do try not to always come across as such an arrogant prick. I suffered from alopecia for about 3 years in my 30's and well know what it looks like. It's patches of total hair loss which are as clear as day even when you shave your head. She has clearly got an even head of short hair shaved. Apparently her alopecia consists of one 2cm patch on the top of her head which would easily be covered with her hair.

Is it not arrogant to assume you know how it presents in someone else? You know it sometimes regrows and sometimes doesn't, how do you know what phase it is in for her? And also, it's a bit of male arrogance to project your experience on to a woman suffering from it and the different reception that provokes from society at large.

[Blackmac]

Are people actually this dumb? She’s shaved her head because she has alopecia.

Do try not to always come across as such an arrogant prick. I suffered from alopecia for about 3 years in my 30's and well know what it looks like. It's patches of total hair loss which are as clear as day even when you shave your head. She has clearly got an even head of short hair shaved. Apparently her alopecia consists of one 2cm patch on the top of her head which would easily be covered with her hair.

Is it not arrogant to assume you know how it presents in someone else? You know it sometimes regrows and sometimes doesn't, how do you know what phase it is in for her? And also, it's a bit of male arrogance to project your experience on to a woman suffering from it and the different reception that provokes from society at large.

Fuck me. Now you start with this pish. You were the one arrogantly proclaiming us idiots when you had no idea of our knowledge of the subject, just as usual assuming it was less than yours.
Also no one was projecting anything. All that was commented on was that she appears to have a completely full head of hair, shaved yes, but clearly no sign of the common signs of alopecia.

[Gav]

Nay!

[Hugo]

Basketball player Kareem Abdul Jabbar seems to have nailed it with this piece. Well reasoned and measured analysis IMO:

When Will Smith stormed onto the Oscar stage to strike Chris Rock for making a joke about his wife’s short hair, he did a lot more damage than just to Rock’s face. With a single petulant blow, he advocated violence, diminished women, insulted the entertainment industry, and perpetuated stereotypes about the Black community.

That’s a lot to unpack. Let’s start with the facts: Rock made a reference to Smith’s wife, Jada Pinkett Smith, as looking like Demi Moore in GI Jane, in which Moore had shaved her head. Jada Pinkett Smith suffers from alopecia, which causes hair loss. Ok, I can see where the Smiths might not have found that joke funny. But Hollywood awards shows are traditionally a venue where much worse things have been said about celebrities as a means of downplaying the fact that it’s basically a gathering of multimillionaires giving each other awards to boost business so they can make even more money.

The Smiths could have reacted by politely laughing along with the joke or by glowering angrily at Rock. Instead, Smith felt the need to get up in front of his industry peers and millions of people around the world, hit another man, then return to his seat to bellow: “Keep my wife's name out of your fucking mouth.” Twice.

Some have romanticized Smith’s actions as that of a loving husband defending his wife. Comedian Tiffany Haddish, who starred in the movie Girls Trip with Pinkett Smith, praised Smith’s actions: “[F]or me, it was the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen because it made me believe that there are still men out there that love and care about their women, their wives.”

Actually, it was the opposite. Smith’s slap was also a slap to women. If Rock had physically attacked Pinkett Smith, Smith’s intervention would have been welcome. Or if he’d remained in his seat and yelled his post-slap threat, that would have been unnecessary, but understandable. But by hitting Rock, he announced that his wife was incapable of defending herself—against words. From everything I’d seen of Pinkett Smith over the years, she’s a very capable, tough, smart woman who can single-handedly take on a lame joke at the Academy Awards show.

This patronizing, paternal attitude infantilizes women and reduces them to helpless damsels needing a Big Strong Man to defend their honor lest they swoon from the vapors. If he was really doing it for his wife, and not his own need to prove himself, he might have thought about the negative attention this brought on them, much harsher than the benign joke. That would have been truly defending and respecting her. This “women need men to defend them” is the same justification currently being proclaimed by conservatives passing laws to restrict abortion and the LGBTQ+ community.

Worse than the slap was Smith’s tearful, self-serving acceptance speech in which he rambled on about all the women in the movie King Richard that he’s protected. Those who protect don’t brag about it in front of 15 million people. They just do it and shut up. You don’t do it as a movie promotion claiming how you’re like the character you just won an award portraying. By using these women to virtue signal, he was in fact exploiting them to benefit himself. But, of course, the speech was about justifying his violence. Apparently, so many people need Smith’s protection that occasionally it gets too much and someone needs to be smacked.

What is the legacy of Smith’s violence? He’s brought back the Toxic Bro ideal of embracing Kobra Kai teachings of “might makes right” and “talk is for losers.” Let’s not forget that this macho John Wayne philosophy was expressed in two movies in which Wayne spanked grown women to teach them a lesson. Young boys—especially Black boys—watching their movie idol not just hit another man over a joke, but then justify it as him being a superhero-like protector, are now much more prone to follow in his childish footsteps. Perhaps the saddest confirmation of this is the tweet from Smith’s child Jaden: “And That’s How We Do It.”

The Black community also takes a direct hit from Smith. One of the main talking points from those supporting the systemic racism in America is characterizing Blacks as more prone to violence and less able to control their emotions. Smith just gave comfort to the enemy by providing them with the perfect optics they were dreaming of. Fox News host Jeanine Pirro wasted no time going full-metal jacket racist by declaring the Oscars are “not the hood.” What would she have said if Brad Pitt slapped Ricky Gervais? This isn’t Rodeo Drive? Many will be reinvigorated to continue their campaign to marginalize African Americans and others through voter suppression campaign.

As for the damage to show business, Smith’s violence is an implied threat to all comedians who now have to worry that an edgy or insulting joke might be met with violence. Good thing Don Rickles, Bill Burr, or Ricky Gervais weren’t there. As comedian Kathy Griffin tweeted: “Now we all have to worry about who wants to be the next Will Smith in comedy clubs and theaters.”

The one bright note is that Chris Rock, clearly stunned, managed to handle the moment with grace and maturity. If only Smith’s acceptance speech had shown similar grace and maturity—and included, instead of self-aggrandizing excuses, a heartfelt apology to Rock.


I met Will Smith when I appeared on Fresh Prince of Bel-Air 28 years ago. And I’ve been to his house. I like him. He’s charming, sincere, and funny. I’m also a big fan of his movies. He’s an accomplished and dedicated actor who deserves the professional accolades he’s received. But it will be difficult to watch the next movie without remembering this sad performance.

I don’t want to see him punished or ostracized because of this one, albeit a big one, mistake. I just want this to be a cautionary tale for others not to romanticize or glorify bad behavior. And I want Smith to be the man who really protects others—by admitting the harm he’s done to others.

https://kareem.substack.com/p/will-smit ... medium=web

[Openside]

Basketball player Kareem Abdul Jabbar seems to have nailed it with this piece. Well reasoned and measured analysis IMO:

When Will Smith stormed onto the Oscar stage to strike Chris Rock for making a joke about his wife’s short hair, he did a lot more damage than just to Rock’s face. With a single petulant blow, he advocated violence, diminished women, insulted the entertainment industry, and perpetuated stereotypes about the Black community.

That’s a lot to unpack. Let’s start with the facts: Rock made a reference to Smith’s wife, Jada Pinkett Smith, as looking like Demi Moore in GI Jane, in which Moore had shaved her head. Jada Pinkett Smith suffers from alopecia, which causes hair loss. Ok, I can see where the Smiths might not have found that joke funny. But Hollywood awards shows are traditionally a venue where much worse things have been said about celebrities as a means of downplaying the fact that it’s basically a gathering of multimillionaires giving each other awards to boost business so they can make even more money.

The Smiths could have reacted by politely laughing along with the joke or by glowering angrily at Rock. Instead, Smith felt the need to get up in front of his industry peers and millions of people around the world, hit another man, then return to his seat to bellow: “Keep my wife's name out of your fucking mouth.” Twice.

Some have romanticized Smith’s actions as that of a loving husband defending his wife. Comedian Tiffany Haddish, who starred in the movie Girls Trip with Pinkett Smith, praised Smith’s actions: “[F]or me, it was the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen because it made me believe that there are still men out there that love and care about their women, their wives.”

Actually, it was the opposite. Smith’s slap was also a slap to women. If Rock had physically attacked Pinkett Smith, Smith’s intervention would have been welcome. Or if he’d remained in his seat and yelled his post-slap threat, that would have been unnecessary, but understandable. But by hitting Rock, he announced that his wife was incapable of defending herself—against words. From everything I’d seen of Pinkett Smith over the years, she’s a very capable, tough, smart woman who can single-handedly take on a lame joke at the Academy Awards show.

This patronizing, paternal attitude infantilizes women and reduces them to helpless damsels needing a Big Strong Man to defend their honor lest they swoon from the vapors. If he was really doing it for his wife, and not his own need to prove himself, he might have thought about the negative attention this brought on them, much harsher than the benign joke. That would have been truly defending and respecting her. This “women need men to defend them” is the same justification currently being proclaimed by conservatives passing laws to restrict abortion and the LGBTQ+ community.

Worse than the slap was Smith’s tearful, self-serving acceptance speech in which he rambled on about all the women in the movie King Richard that he’s protected. Those who protect don’t brag about it in front of 15 million people. They just do it and shut up. You don’t do it as a movie promotion claiming how you’re like the character you just won an award portraying. By using these women to virtue signal, he was in fact exploiting them to benefit himself. But, of course, the speech was about justifying his violence. Apparently, so many people need Smith’s protection that occasionally it gets too much and someone needs to be smacked.

What is the legacy of Smith’s violence? He’s brought back the Toxic Bro ideal of embracing Kobra Kai teachings of “might makes right” and “talk is for losers.” Let’s not forget that this macho John Wayne philosophy was expressed in two movies in which Wayne spanked grown women to teach them a lesson. Young boys—especially Black boys—watching their movie idol not just hit another man over a joke, but then justify it as him being a superhero-like protector, are now much more prone to follow in his childish footsteps. Perhaps the saddest confirmation of this is the tweet from Smith’s child Jaden: “And That’s How We Do It.”

The Black community also takes a direct hit from Smith. One of the main talking points from those supporting the systemic racism in America is characterizing Blacks as more prone to violence and less able to control their emotions. Smith just gave comfort to the enemy by providing them with the perfect optics they were dreaming of. Fox News host Jeanine Pirro wasted no time going full-metal jacket racist by declaring the Oscars are “not the hood.” What would she have said if Brad Pitt slapped Ricky Gervais? This isn’t Rodeo Drive? Many will be reinvigorated to continue their campaign to marginalize African Americans and others through voter suppression campaign.

As for the damage to show business, Smith’s violence is an implied threat to all comedians who now have to worry that an edgy or insulting joke might be met with violence. Good thing Don Rickles, Bill Burr, or Ricky Gervais weren’t there. As comedian Kathy Griffin tweeted: “Now we all have to worry about who wants to be the next Will Smith in comedy clubs and theaters.”

The one bright note is that Chris Rock, clearly stunned, managed to handle the moment with grace and maturity. If only Smith’s acceptance speech had shown similar grace and maturity—and included, instead of self-aggrandizing excuses, a heartfelt apology to Rock.


I met Will Smith when I appeared on Fresh Prince of Bel-Air 28 years ago. And I’ve been to his house. I like him. He’s charming, sincere, and funny. I’m also a big fan of his movies. He’s an accomplished and dedicated actor who deserves the professional accolades he’s received. But it will be difficult to watch the next movie without remembering this sad performance.

I don’t want to see him punished or ostracized because of this one, albeit a big one, mistake. I just want this to be a cautionary tale for others not to romanticize or glorify bad behavior. And I want Smith to be the man who really protects others—by admitting the harm he’s done to others.

https://kareem.substack.com/p/will-smit ... medium=web

Basically said much of what I thought and a lot more besides. Good piece.

[Blackmac]

Just watched "King Richard". WTF, has there ever been a less impressive best actor award. Just appeared to be Will Smith being Will Smith.

[Gumboot]

Just watched "King Richard". WTF, has there ever been a less impressive best actor award. Just appeared to be Will Smith being Will Smith.

Yeah, it's a very average film. The saccharine chorus of "yes, Daddy" from the sisterhood whenever he proclaimed his family's indomitable greatness (pretty much every 5 minutes) was really annoying.

[Ethologist]

You can take the African out of Africa...

[Ymx]

Reported. I sincerely hope I’ve been whooshed for your benefit

[Zapp Bannigan]

Hole in 1.

[MungoMan]

Sometime early tomorrow morning I shall duck down to the shop and buy a cut-price fuck to give.

[SaintK]

Sometime early tomorrow morning I shall duck down to the shop and buy a cut-price fuck to give.

Yes, quite!!

[Ymx]

Sometime early tomorrow morning I shall duck down to the shop and buy a cut-price fuck to give.

Yes, quite!!

At racist comments? Or the thread in general.

[SaintK]

Sometime early tomorrow morning I shall duck down to the shop and buy a cut-price fuck to give.

Yes, quite!!

At racist comments? Or the thread in general.

What do you think

[Ymx]

I wasn’t sure, as it wasn’t a brand new thread, been sitting around for some time (idle for a week), and only bumped by the nasty post.

And mungo had already told us how little he cared about the thread some time ago. You had already participated in the thread.

Either way, probably good now to just see this thread fade away, like Will Smiths career.