Writers Note: For those expecting to read my Final Four preview, that will be posted Wedndsday.

By Erich R Pilcher

The Oscars. This name evokes many emotions. For me, I remember when it was about honoring the best in cinema. This was done without political agendas being forced down our throats and sadly that has trickled down to whoever wins the awards. It is a woke crackpot pie (a few people have said they like that saying) of the highest order.

Ever since The Shape of Water robbed Three Billboards Outside Ebbing Missouri for Best Picture, I have had no interest in viewing the ceremony. I just merely read the recap and sigh, longing for the days of it just being about the films and performances. That was until last night when something caught my attention.

Comedian Chris Rock was on stage presenting an award. Per custom, presenters often chide celebrities in attendance. And either the celebrities laugh it off or look angry but nothing comes of it. That was until Rock, made a joke regarding Jada Pinkett-Smith being bald (it is allegedly due to a disease called Alopecia). Her “husband” Will Smith took the stage and smacked Rock and then went on an obscene rant about keeping “His wife’s name out of his mouth”.

The takes flooded social media. And then I saw people defending the action. Not entirely shocking given the fact that wokeism, often defends crime in defense of their agenda. But these same people were the ones that were attacking Michigan Head Men’s Basketball Coach Juwan Howard for slapping an opposing head coach following a game (Howard was subsequently suspended for the final five games of the regular season). The hypocrisy, as is in most of these cases, runs way deeper than that.

I’m all for men defending their wives (as they should in marriage). But as a man, Smith should have approached Rock after the show and spoke about it. Not acting like someone upset because they had their shoes stepped on in the neighborhood. Worth noting is actress Regina King earlier in the show also took a shot at the Smiths earlier the show and was kept safe from the question “What did the five fingers say to the face? (the answer is a slap by the way)”

Then we turn our focus to Smith’s “marriage.” This past September Smith spoke that he and his wife had an open marriage. This came following reports that Jada had had an affair. Now, call me old-fashioned, but if you cannot follow the very tenants of marriage by being true to each other, then you cant pull the defend my spouse card when it is convenient.

I wish I could say that this was all resolved, but it was not. Later in the evening, Smith won Best Actor for his performance in “King Richard”. This would have been the opportunity to apologize for his actions. Instead, Smith went on an incoherent, crocodile tear rant about how he is a defender and wants to spread love. Hard to take that seriously when earlier he was spreading five fingers across Rock’s face in unmitigated rage. But at least he passed these values onto his kids, his son Jaden tweeted out “That’s how we do” right after Smith attacked Rock. Nothing like extolling values that misdemeanors are acceptable to your children.

Sadly, we shouldn’t even be shocked about this. We “common people” put these celebrities on a pedestal. What that does is when these things happen, celebrities have an aurora of invincibility to them. That they can do anything they want and their fans will still accept them and even cheer these acts, criminal or otherwise.

Unfortunately, Rock refuses to press charges. I honestly feel he should have. What Smith did was a criminal act and should be handled as such. If we accept this now, these actions will continue. We preach non-violence towards others, but if we condone this, it is words shrouded in complete falsehood.
It is time we take a stand and smack down the hypocrisy at play.

In regards to this situation, it appears this will make The 2022 Academy Awards memorable for all the wrong reasons. Despite my ambivalence toward the awards, it is sad that those that this action takes away from those that won. Their moment is overshadowed by Smith’s heinous actions. Most of the winners deserve better, except for Smith. His win deserves to be clouded, but it is the one that will be most honored. And that is the one statement that shows the sordid state of the entertainment world. If you do not see that, then you are a part of the problem and then there will never be a solution.