Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Will Smith slapping Chris Rock during the Oscars caused 66 people to complain to the Federal Communications Commission, the US regulator for television.
The moment, which was seen by around 15 million people in the US, drew a range of complaints, but many focussed on the fact that children could have witnessed the incident.
TMZ, who obtained the list of complaints, claim that one said: “The level of violence from one black man inflicted onto another over something he didn’t like hearing is intolerable!! Are you tolerating this??? Thought black lives mattered?? Obviously not!! Is that your message???? Smith should be fined & suspended!!!!”
Another complaint called for Smith to be arrested and banned from the Oscars. “Will Smith physically and verbally assaulted Chris Rock in front of the world on national TV at the Oscars tonight,” it read. “It was so bad the words Will was yelling at Chris were blocked out from the public’s hearing. Will should be banned from further Oscars and should be arrested for assault which we all saw. There should be no allowance for privilege for such violence which would be apparent to all.”
One viewer from Texas called the incident “devastating” while another from California said they were “disturbed”.
While there were only 66 official complaints from US viewers, numerous celebrities have criticised Smith’s reaction to the joke, with Jim Carrey calling on the Bad Boys star to be arrested.
Smith has since apologised to Rock for the incident and the comedian commented on it at a recent stand-up show in Boston. “I’m still kind of processing what happened, so at some point I’ll talk about that,” said Rock. “And it’ll be serious and it’ll be funny, but right now I’m going to tell some jokes.”
Rock has denied claims that he and Smith have spoken and cleared the air.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments