Abdul-Jabbar: Smith’s slap at Oscars ‘perpetuated stereotypes about the Black community’

Basketball legend Kareem Abdul-Jabbar believes Will Smith’s slap at the Oscars was more than just a slap.

Abdul-Jabbar wrote that Smith’s reaction to Chris Rock’s joke about the movie star’s wife, Jada Pinkett Smith, “perpetuated stereotypes about the Black community.” 

“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,” Abdul-Jabbar wrote on his SubStack. “With a single petulant blow, he advocated violence, diminished women, insulted the entertainment industry, and perpetuated stereotypes about the Black community.”

Rock was presenting an award for Best Documentary when he made a joke about Pinkett Smith’s bald head, comparing her to Demi Moore in the movie “G.I. Jane.” Pinkett Smith has discussed living with alopecia (an autoimmune disease that leads to hair loss) — an aspect that led many to defend Smith’s slap after Rock’s joke. 

The Full Uncensored video of Will Smith’s altercation with Chris Rock at the #Oscars pic.twitter.com/cGQ3plSEiz

— Movies (@moreoffilms) March 28, 2022

“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,” Abdul-Jabbar wrote. “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.”

The slap during Sunday night’s Oscars — where Smith won best actor for his role as Serena and Venus Williams’ father in “King Richard — was a Rorschach test for the millions watching. Many saw Smith’s actions as Abdul-Jabbar did — as out of line — while others saw the exact same slap as a righteous defense by a husband of his wife. 

While Abdul-Jabbar’s post condemned Smith, there are many in the Black community who are defending Smith — mostly by pushing back against the overblown takes from some White celebrities. Director Judd Apatow said that Smith “could have killed” Rock and said that the former “Fresh Prince of Bel-Air” star “lost his mind.” Comedian Amy Schumer, meanwhile, made the slap about herself, saying she was “triggered” by it. 

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Will Smith on the set of “Fresh Prince of Bel-Air.” 1994. pic.twitter.com/bTO9c87nsv

— D’von Smallwood 🏁 (@dvonsmallwood) March 30, 2022

The outrage from some celebrities and media members was something the Black community knew was coming right when Smith screamed, “Keep my wife’s name out of your f****** mouth,” at Rock following the shocking slap. Many took to Twitter to bemoan the upcoming week’s think pieces and cable television segments about the incident. 

“Dear white journalists readying your takes and think pieces on what just happened between Will Smith and Chris Rock…maybe don’t,” posted an entertainment blogger who is Black. 

“I will never forgive Will Smith for the think pieces we will have to endure for the next 2 weeks. NEVER,” Alexis Wilson, an advice columnist who is Black, tweeted.

On Monday, Smith apologized in a social media post for the slap. 

“Violence in all of its forms is poisonous and destructive,” Smith wrote. “My behavior at last night’s Academy Awards was unacceptable and inexcusable. Jokes at my expense are part of the job, but a joke about Jada’s medical condition was too much for me to bear and I reacted emotionally.

“I would like to publicly apologize to you, Chris. I was out of line and I was wrong. I am embarrassed and my actions were not indicative of the man I want to be. There is no place for violence in a world of love and kindness.”