Chris Rock Archives - The New School Free Press

Why was everyone freaking out?

Will Smith slapped Chris Rock on stage at the Oscars after Rock made a joke at the expense of Jada Pinkett Smith. The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences then leveled punishment against Smith for his transgression. Illustration by Caitlin Du

The startling hypocrisy of the Academy’s reaction to Will Smith’s infamous slap. For as long as the entertainment business has been around, Hollywood has been a place where…