What the Will Smith/Chris Rock moment at the Academy Awards can teach us about comedy and cruelty

There’s an elephant in the room that no one is talking about:

It’s called VERBAL ABUSE.

This is the context of Chris Rock’s joke about Jada Pinkett Smith in his comedy monologue Sunday night at the 94th Academy Awards ceremony.

In the media aftermath of Will Smith slapping Chris Rock, it is all about the slap, not the words.

Will Smith is being censured all over the place for his “physical assault.”

I have not read one word censuring Chris Rock for his insensitivity in his joking words about Jada Pinkett Smith’s bald head.

Will Smith’s apology for the SLAP is being broadcast everywhere.

Chris Rock has yet to apologize for his WORDS.

Just in case you missed the hottest news item on social media right now, here’s what happened in a nutshell:

Newsweek reports:

“Smith has come under fire for the act of violence against Rock, who made an insensitive joke about Smith’s wife, Jada Pinkett Smith.

Rock made a joke about Pinkett Smith’s short haircut — which is due to alopecia.