By Bamidele Ademola-Olateju

Was GI Jane something to make fun of? Demi Moore’s portrayal of GI Jane was top notch. GI Jane is a timeless movie anyone should be proud of, for its feminine energy. I understand and appreciate all the bromide about standing up for your wife. Any joke about an illness, a medical condition, deformity or disability is not okay. That is why I don’t appreciate Nigerian comedians imitating people with Downs Syndrome and Cerebral Palsy. All that said, violence in any form, at any place is not okay. Most importantly violence beamed to international audience. B.A.D!

How can anyone slap a comedian for a tasteless joke and he is allowed to go back to his seat without getting handcuffed? How will these folks preach consequences and accountability? More annoying for me, was the crowd’s reaction. Their reaction showed what group dynamics can do and how hollow the entitled echo chamber of Hollywood is. Why should you applaud assault by a man in tuxedo towards another in tuxedo? How is that different from the violence of the MAGA crowd?

What would have happened if Will Smith had gone on stage, asked Chris Rock to apologize, with calm in his voice and going further to explain to international audience what alopecia is and how extreme hair loss feels, for women who are not accustomed to going bald? What if before leaving the stage, Will had expressed love for his wife despite the challenges they have faced and walked away? That is what a Denzel Washington would do. He is a class act. Will Smith action is not about the devil, it is all about a sense of responsibility and doing better in the face of provocation. Will Smith needs to see a therapist. He’s told us his dad, did beat his mum. What happened was a manifestation and an explosion of bottled childhood anger. Unfortunately, he took the night with him. I am not amused!