Brooke Boney defends Will Smith after Oscars slap

Amid the wave of backlash against Will Smith for his shock Oscars moment, one Aussie presenter has thrown her support behind the star on Twitter.

As the pile-on against Will Smith continues to dominate Twitter, Channel 9 entertainment reporter Brooke Boney has defended the King Richard star after he slapped comedian Chris Rock at the Oscars in a moment that shocked the world.

In her response to the incident, Boney took aim at Rock for cracking the joke about Jada Pinkett Smith’s alopecia to begin with.

During his presenter slot, Rock had quipped that he “couldn’t wait” to see the sequel of G.I Jane, mocking Pinkett Smith’s shaved head.

As the camera panned to the Red Table Talk host, she could be seen rolling her eyes and glancing sideways at Smith.

Suddenly, Smith jumped to his feet, marched up to Rock and slapped him, before returning to his seat and yelling, “KEEP MY WIFE’S NAME OUT YOUR F**KING MOUTH” repeatedly as the crowd sat stunned.

Rock then uttered that the altercation was “the greatest night in the history on television”.

Moments later, Smith took out the award for Best Actor with a tearful speech and apology.

Stream more entertainment news live & on demand with Flash. 25+ news channels in 1 place. New to Flash? Try 1 month free. Offer ends 31 October, 2022 >

Will Smith cried while accepting the award for Best Actor in a Leading Role for King Richard. Picture: AFP.

Amid the sea of social media responses to the chaotic moment, media personality Boney wrote: “To hell with black men who put black women down for the benefit of a mostly white audience.”

“As if getting slapped on stage is worse than humiliating someone because they’re disabled.”

To hell with black men who put black women down for the benefit of a mostly white audience. As if getting slapped on stage is worse than humiliating someone because they’re disabled

— Brooke Boney (@boneybrooke) March 28, 2022

Her take prompted fierce debate in the comments, with some asserting there’s “no justification” for Smith’s actions, and accusing Boney of “condoning violence”.

Responding to one commenter, the Today show star said: “Oh spare me. As if I’m condoning violence. Why don’t you channel some of that concern towards the five women who were killed this week if you’re so passionate about preventing violence?”

Boney was one of the few who defended Smith for storming the Oscars stage. Picture: Getty Images.

While the majority of reactions to the wild moment were condemning of Smith, Boney wasn’t the only person to take a sympathetic stance, with artist and writer Vika Mana praising the actor for the reaction to Rock’s joke.

“Bro I’m speechless, because Australian TV didn’t bleep a single word said from Will Smith,” Mana wrote.

“Praising this man for standing up for his wife because this is what disabled people have to deal with on a daily. Making ableist/ablenoir jokes about Jada on international TV is not on.”
Writer and actor Michelle Law offered a similar defence.

“As someone with alopecia, frankly go off Will Smith,” Law tweeted, adding in the comments, “It’d be different if Jada had cut her hair that way. But she didn’t. It’s an illness.”

Another suggested the best move after Rock’s quip would have been to simply leave the ceremony in protest.

Of course, everyone has a view. But the best reaction Will Smith could have had to Chris Rock's Joke would have been to take Jada's hand, walk out, and not be there for the most important award of the night. That's the kind of action that speaks louder than words, or violence

— Trevor Long (@trevorlong) March 28, 2022

As someone with alopecia, frankly go off Will Smith.

— Michelle Law 羅敏儀 (@ms_michellelaw) March 28, 2022

Bro I’m speechless, because Australian TV didn’t bleep a single word said from Will Smith. Praising this man for standing up for his wife because this is what disabled people have to deal with on a daily. Making ableist/ablenoir jokes about Jada on international TV is not on

— vika mana (@endlessyarning) March 28, 2022

Pinkett Smith shaved her head last year after struggling from worsening hair loss.

The talk show host has been open about her battle over the past three years, eventually opting to shave all her hair off with the help of her daughter, Willow, in July 2021.

Alopecia causes drastic hair loss. It can be the result of heredity, hormonal changes, medical conditions or a normal part of aging.

Chris Rock has made jokes at Jada Pinkett Smith’s expense in the past.

The comedian sledged her at the 2016 Oscars when celebrities were refusing to attend the event over the lack of diversity.

“Jada boycotting the Oscars is like me boycotting Rihanna’s panties. I wasn’t invited,” Rock said at the time.

Originally published as Brooke Boney defends Will Smith after Oscars slap