Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you’ve probably heard about the “smack down” at the Oscars last Sunday on live TV. I’ve been asked for my professional opinion on this incident as I do treat numerous creative artists. Let me first state that I have never treated Will Smith or Chris Rock.
I understand the “acting role hangover” many artists experience after a movie wraps, where they have trouble letting go of certain qualities of a character they portray. But there is no excuse for violence. If so, then Anthony Hopkins could have Hannibal Lecter’ed the emcee of the Oscars back in 1991.
There is a great chance some unresolved trauma of his own triggered Will Smith when he felt he needed to defend his wife’s honor. Yet anyone in jail or prison could use childhood trauma as an excuse for their criminal behavior.
I personally felt KING RICHARD was an amazing film, and that Will Smith was brilliant at Richard Williams. While we have no precedent in this regard, and are struggling to learn from this, I feel he should be allowed to keep the Oscar he earned, and that The Academy should at the very least ban him from future Oscar Award ceremonies. The court of public opinion may be all the judgment he needs. And I myself would be haunted by the Oscar statue on my shelf for years to come, knowing it is forever entwined with and tainted by assaultive impulsivity. This may very well be all the “punishment” he needs. What a shame, as the incredible body of work that comes to mind with the name Will Smith will very possibly be overshadowed by this selfish act forever.
There is so much anger, anxiety and uncertainty in the world right now. I hope we can all take a moment to take care of ourselves and appropriately process our own unresolved trauma lest it overwhelm us, too.
My heart goes out to all those actors, editors, composers, writers, directors, sound designers, et al, who lost out on the pure joy of what should have been one of the highest points of their lives. And my sincerest congratulations to all those who were nominated for an Oscar. As a former stand-up comic, my heart also goes out to all those comedians who may feel unsafe onstage now for quite some time.
I love movies, and I refuse to let last Sunday night take that away from me.
“Experience is simply the name we give our mistakes.”
– Oscar Wilde