Will Smith Slapped Chris Rock after he made a joke about Will’s wife hair calling her “G.I.Jane. But Will’s wife’s, Jada Pinkett, struggles with alopecia, a condition that causes hair loss. So, Mr. Smith was defending his wife from the insult which touched a sensitive and emotional nerve for the Smith’s family; as Will’s wife has been struggling to deal with this issue. But Chris probably was trying to make light of a serious situation. But he miscalculated as it was a personal, psychological and sensitive issue that could push buttons and it did. For Jada didn’t laugh or smile, and Will got up, went to the stage and hit Chris.
I do not subscribe to this type of reaction and violence is never the answer. But standing up for your family and your woman is what men do in “the animal kingdom.” Chris was out-of-line. But comedians always use jokes or humor that at times cuts deep and seems more an insult as if insults and bringing up people’s emotional scars is funny or what counts for jokes. So, Comedians will now tread carefully when trying to crack a joke.
What is or are the Boundaries, if any, of Comedy that seeks for Laugh to arrive at Some Selfish Gratification?
What is or are the boundaries if any of comedy that seeks for laugh to arrive at some selfish gratification? It is like milking a barren cow or goat 
to the point of hurt, so as to satisfy one’s hunger or thirst without any sensitivity for the cow because the cow is an animal, and its feelings are not important to the Herder only his drive to feed his family and quench his desires. Comedy has become just that: Herders who will go below the belt to crack a joke to appease his desires to achieve humor, applying a strategy developed from his/her awareness of human nature. For human beings are more reactive to certain stimulus or stimuli especially those that are negative and “below the belt.” This has never been the strategy for comedians and jesters; and many ended up quitting as they were unable to sustain or maintain the goal of comedy and comedians—to be funny and provide humor; but for what purpose? To provide humor that leads to a kind of catharsis or release. Humor was always necessary as it helped to provide a break from the tensions, seriousness and insensitivities of everyday—work—life. Comedians never understood this and had forgotten about their purpose and goals, as they abandoned their first love and initial identity; subscribing only to the activity or the mission to tell jokes for laugh. But in doing so, they’ve mixed up the priorities thereby diluting their essence.
To provide humor that leads to a kind of catharsis or release. Humor was always necessary as it helped to provide a break from the tensions, seriousness and insensitivities of everyday—work—life. Comedians never understood this and had forgotten about their purpose and goals, as they abandoned their first love and initial identity; subscribing only to the activity or the mission to tell jokes for laugh. But in doing so, they’ve mixed up the priorities thereby diluting their essence.
Renaldo c mckenzie
Why is that so: Comedy within neoliberal capitalism has become infected by the new ethic of “greed, nepotism and connectionism.” The Protestant ethic, which was only practiced in theory and limited or applicable to a few, was a Christian ethic that western civilization assumes was the driving force behind capitalist society. The ethic was preached but like the Pharisees in Judaism the expectations were for society to appear to be fair, but the ethic was only useful as a strategy to prevent or to minimize any competition that would weaken their position. The “bureaucratic phenomenon” identified by Michael is another strategy passed off as global and international arrangements guided by equity and fair game. But in the end only some countries, the global south and developing countries, were expected to abide by the rules but the others (post-industrial countries) were not, (McKenzie, Renaldo C, “The Neoliberal Book Store – The Neoliberal (renaldocmckenzie.com),” 2021.). Comedians today are at that place; infected by greed and a desire to succeed and be the best and they are willing to abandon who and what they are and aims, to acquire this prominence for themselves (within neoliberal capitalism given the kind of ethic that drives capitalism). But this episode with Will, a former comedian, is an opportunity for comedians to reassess their terms of reference and to revisit the past and revisit human nature. If comedians themselves can’t enjoy a comedy session without reacting in violence, then how can they expect to dish us those kinds of insulting and insensitive staples of jokes.
But this episode with Will, a former comedian, is an opportunity for comedians to reassess their terms of reference and to revisit the past and revisit human nature. If comedians themselves can’t enjoy a comedy session without reacting in violence, then how can they expect to dish us those kinds of insulting and insensitive staples of jokes.
Renaldo C. McKenzie
On the other hand, and in Chris Rock’s defense, it can be argued that men experience hair-loss (alopecia)and are made fun of especially if they are younger men. LeBron James, Stephen A Smith and other men, are always ridiculed for their receding hairline. They are roasted to scorn but without the same reaction from Will and Jada. Why is this so? Is it an issue of gender, where we expect men to be able to handle and take a roast while women aren’t supposed to? So, comedians are not supposed to roast women? Is it that we have different expectations for men and women in comedy?
Further, continuing on Chis’ defense, we had argued that people are different and react differently to stimuli, so Chris is not responsible for how Jada or Will feel because in Chris mind it was an innocuous joke said in jest, that was never meant to produce any ill-will or malice. In Chris’ reality it was fine, but never did he or could he have known about the feelings and thinking or responses from Jada and Will. Because the only reality we are certain of is our own reality. For it is the way of comedy culture in America. Therefore, we cannot blame or accuse Chris of being responsible for any feelings that Will, or Jada may have from this humor.
Finally, Chris Rock admitted that he did not write the joke, it was for him by a team of writers. But this confession does not absolve him from his decision to use this particular script. For, we would not have known that it was written by a team of writers until Will violated him reacting to the jest. Celebrities, Politicians and people who use speech writers or The Neoliberal Corporation to write for them don’t go around telling their fans and audience that they didn’t write a script, especially if it sensational and produces more popularity. Except when the script goes airily of grid and produces the kind of reaction from Will and many who critiqued that he was out-of-line.
This post will be available in our Podcast The Neoliberal Round when it becomes available. A LINK will be inserted HERE, and you may also visit our Podcast page or subscribe to our podcast by adding us to anywhere you get your podcast. Our home platform is https://anchor.fm/theneoliberalround.
It’s not just Americans who roast like that, but I agree comedians don’t think much about feelings only to crack jokes and use insults as if to scorn