Discussion and public opinion surrounding the infamous Will Smith Oscars slap has centered on the two men involved — Smith and Chris Rock — but absent from much of the discussion is Jada Pinkett Smith and her perspective, local arts and culture experts told Jim Braude on Greater Boston.
"I don't think you can have a fully formed response to this incident until you can get the full perspective... of the person at the center of all of this, who is in fact Jada Pinkett Smith," said James Bennett II, arts & culture reporter with GBH News.
Shortly following the Oscars incident during which Rock made a joke about Pinkett Smith's hair, she posted a statement on her Instagram page that read, "this is a season for healing and I'm here for it."
Bennett, who was joined by Reverend Irene Monroe, co-host of All Rev’d Up, said the slap raises questions about what constitutes violence and how fame and power impact the reaction to it.
Monroe said that as Black men, Rock and Smith grew up around violence and noted that Rock chose not to press charges against Smith.
She added that historically, Black men have not had the chance to defend the honor of Black women. However, Monroe said Smith's actions were an example of toxic masculinity, not chivalry.
"As Black people, we don't call the cops to solve our problems because we understand, OK, we can lose our life in the process," Monroe said.
Watch: What can we learn from the Oscars incident?
