Page 14 - aruba-today-20220401

a14 people & arts
Friday 1 april 2022
Will Smith's Oscars slap felt by comedians beyond Chris Rock

The Associated Press pletive) I said about being
When Will Smith slapped Black," she said.
Chris Rock over an Oscars Insult humor isn't new to
ceremony punchline, other high-profile ceremonies,
comedians felt the sting. which call on comics to
"I know Chris and I know liven up what can be te-
what it's like to be on a dious events. Ricky Gervais
stage in front of an audi- made a meal of celebri-
ence that doesn't like your ties at successive Golden
material," said stand-up Globe ceremonies, and
comedian Judy Gold. "But they grin — or grimace —
to be physically assaulted, and bear it. The most fa-
that's a whole other thing. mous bad sport: Trump at
It felt like every comedian the 2011 White House cor-
was smacked across the respondents' dinner, where
face. It really felt like that." he sat stone-faced dur-
Smith's act comes during ing then-President Barack
a stressful time for com- Obama's extended ribbing
edy. While boundaries for of him.
humor constantly shift — Rock wasn't the first to
think George Carlin's 1972 tweak Smith or wife Jada
monologue on seven so- Pinkett Smith at Sunday's
called "dirty words" banned Oscars. Ceremony co-host
by TV — comics say they A message expressing support for comedian Chris Rock is displayed on the digital marquee of the Regina Hall made what ap-
have felt increased push- Laugh Factory comedy club, Wednesday, March 30, 2022, in Los Angeles. peared to be a veiled joke
back from audiences and Associated Press about their marriage in try-
society. Comedy great ing, unsuccessfully, to draw
Dave Chappelle drew eryone's been drinking, if there is never "a place for a best-actor Oscar. Smith into a comedy bit.
sharp criticism last year for you don't like my joke, do violent response to a joke" Gold said she's been con- Rock's wisecrack was tar-
what some deemed anti- you now believe that you but doubted there would fronted but never struck, geted at Pinkett Smith.
transgender humor in his can get up and slap me? be copycat behavior. In his and she knows other female "Jada, I love you. 'G.I. Jane
Netflix special "The Closer." There's got to be account- time in comedy clubs, he's comedians have faced dif- 2,' can't wait to see it," the
Kathy Griffin's career was ability quicker." seen yelling, screaming ficult circumstances. "Peo- comedian said to Pinkett
derailed in 2017 when she Griffin tweeted that "now and, once, a glass thrown ple have been getting on Smith, whose close-shav-
was photographed holding we all have to worry about at somebody. But he's nev- stage, people have thrown en head looked similar to
a mock-up of former Presi- who wants to be the next er seen a punch thrown, things," she said. Demi Moore's in the 1997
dent Donald Trump's head. Will Smith in comedy clubs nor a comedian slapped. Comedian-actor Yama- movie. Whether Rock was
Some comedians ex- and theaters." "If someone were to strike a neika Saunders calls Smith's aware that she has a hair-
pressed concern that "Which is the worst crime comedian, they're going to behavior upsetting and loss condition, alopecia,
Smith's behavior might em- here?" veteran comedian be prosecuted criminally. Sunday a sad day for "two is unknown, but Smith re-
bolden other displeased Gilbert Gottfried said in an They don't have the privi- beloved Black men in en- acted with the smack and
audience members. interview with The Associat- lege that Will Smith has," tertainment." She also views an angry warning to "keep
"No one went up to Chris ed Press. "Chris Rock being Obeidallah said. what happened through my wife's name out your
Rock and said, 'Are you physically assaulted? Or The Los Angeles Police the lens of a "Black woman (expletive) mouth!"
OK?'" Sheryl Underwood, Chris Rock making a joke? Department said Sunday in comedy.'' A tearful Smith later ac-
co-host of "The Talk," said That's it, pure and simple. that it was aware of the "I'm constantly being cepted the top acting
on the show Tuesday. "I'm He made a joke." incident, but Rock had de- threatened....by some man award for "King Richard,"
going to say this as a com- Dean Obeidallah, a lawyer clined to file a police re- who doesn't like some (ex- his somewhat remorseful
ic, I am afraid now to get and stand-up comic who port. Smith stayed through pletive) I said about being speech eliciting a stand-
on a stage, because in hosts a show on the SiriusXM the rest of the ceremony a woman, some white guy ing ovation from the Dolby
my third show, when ev- Progress channel, said Sunday and received the who doesn't like some (ex- Theatre crowd. q

Native Hawaiian hula teacher will appear on U.S. quarters

HONOLULU (AP) — The "Her moʻolelo, or stories, Mint said the other four
late Native Hawaiian hula served to rescue aspects of women to appear on the
teacher Edith Kanaka'ole Hawaiian history, customs coin next year were: Bessie
is among five women who and traditions that were Coleman, the first African
will be individually featured disappearing due to the American and first Native
on U.S. quarters next year cultural bigotry of the time," American woman pilot; El-
as part of a program that it said in a news release. eanor Roosevelt, first lady
depicts notable women on The Edith Kanaka'ole Foun- and author; Jovita Idár, the
the coins. dation in Hilo, which was Mexican American journal-
The U.S. Mint said Wednes- established in 1990 to per- ist and activist; and Maria
day the other side of each petuate her and her hus- Tallchief, who was Ameri-
quarter will show George band Luka Kanaka'ole's ca's first prima ballerina.
Washington. teachings, said she has This year, the program is is-
It described Kanaka'ole, been recognized as "the suing coins featuring five
who died in 1978, as a com- preeminent practitioner of other women, including
This undated photo provided by Edith Kanaka'ole Foundation
show the late Native Hawaiian hula teacher Edith Kanaka'ole. poser, chanter, dancer, modern Hawaiian culture poet Maya Angelou and
Associated Press teacher and entertainer. and language." The U.S. astronaut Sally Ride.q