Yes, a slap is a way to get a point across without much risk of doing any significant damage.
Will was caught on camera laughing at Chris' joke until the moment he saw his wife's grimace, and then he went full white knight to defend her honor. I said he was clearly losing it, but being crazy enough to go for a real punch and risking leaving a mark on Chris that would be visible for the remainder of the show would've been orders of magnitude worse.
He delivered as much force as he could get away with without serious consequences.
No attempt to block
Chris Rock is a 57 year old who most likely hasn't been in a fight since his teens - if he's ever been in a fight at all. You're expecting quick reactions?
Consider after the hit. Why was there no security or anyone else getting up to possibly step in and stop a possible fight? Why wouldn't Rock move to protect himself or evade after one hit unless he knew that would be the extent of the attack?
Chris Rock is a 57 year old who most likely hasn't been in a fight since his teens - if he's ever been in a fight at all. You're expecting quick reactions?
I expect some type of reaction, quick or not. Nobody just stands there like that when they see someone cock back to hit them, unless they know what's coming.
He's wondering what Will is doing
He may sense danger
Likely expecting Will to say something
Yes, a slap is a way to get a point across without much risk of doing any significant damage.
Will was caught on camera laughing at Chris' joke until the moment he saw his wife's grimace, and then he went full white knight to defend her honor. I said he was clearly losing it, but being crazy enough to go for a real punch and risking leaving a mark on Chris that would be visible for the remainder of the show would've been orders of magnitude worse.
He delivered as much force as he could get away with without serious consequences.
Chris Rock is a 57 year old who most likely hasn't been in a fight since his teens - if he's ever been in a fight at all. You're expecting quick reactions?
This article has a video of the slap (about halfway down) and Chris looks like he knew it was coming.
Plus, the Oscars were dying. They needed something this splashy.
You might argue that's just coincidence and up to that point I might be inclined to believe it.
BUT what sealed the deal for me is that Pfizer sponsored the show and they just happen to come out with a new Alopecia drug. That's just too big of a coincidence to believe this was organic. It's a viral marketing stunt.
Consider after the hit. Why was there no security or anyone else getting up to possibly step in and stop a possible fight? Why wouldn't Rock move to protect himself or evade after one hit unless he knew that would be the extent of the attack?
The best point to support it being real is that Will Smith is not a good enough actor to have pulled it off.
He's no savant, but anger is one of the easiest emotions to fake. Much easier than fake crying, for example.
He was crying too.
Because Will immediately turned his back on Chris and walked away?
I expect some type of reaction, quick or not. Nobody just stands there like that when they see someone cock back to hit them, unless they know what's coming.