Following the Oscars Slapgate, a joke Will Smith made about a bald man in 1991 has gone viral. For those who don’t know (and who doesn’t?), host Chris Rock mocked Will’s wife Jada Pinkett’s shaved head, comparing it to the GI Jane character played by Demi Moore in a 1990s film with a buzzcut. Will first laughed, but was provoked seconds later – maybe by Jada’s eyeroll – and walked over to Chris, hitting him, and yelling, “Keep my wife’s name out of your f*****g mouth!”
In the wake of virtually universal criticism of Will Smith’s conduct, Twitter has revived – and made trending – a footage from the King Richard star’s 1991 appearance on The Arsenio Hall Show. Will was on The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air at the time, and he got a little too fresh with the bald bassist in the house band.
“What about the bassist? He was given a rule. Every morning, he got to wax his head. There’s a regulation for that! Man, he follows the rules. He adheres to the regulations “Will Smith says something in the video, and the camera switches to bassist John B Williams, who responds with a smile. Someone – either Arsenio or the audience – labels Will “rude” when the camera returns to him; “These are jokes, come one,” Will says.
John B Williams, a well-known double-bassist and bass guitarist, was contacted by Rolling Stone. “I didn’t take it seriously at the time. He was a stand-up comedian. He was the Bel-Fresh Air’s Prince. He used to be a rapper. It was a joke to me. I joked about it “Mr. Williams explained. He further clarified that, while the two jokes – Will Smith’s at his expense and Chris Rock’s at Jada Pinkett Smith’s – were about the same issue, Mr Williams’ baldness is not caused by alopecia, but Jada’s is.
Will Smith lost his cool, according to John B Williams, since the joke was on his wife rather than him. Will was chuckling when Chris originally made the remark. Will only came to her defense once it became clear that Jada didn’t find it amusing. You can’t help but do crazy things when you’re in love. That’s his beautiful wife, whom he adores. He had just responded out of wrath. “I’ve responded out of indignation on occasion,” he said.
Regardless of Will Smith’s intentions or apologies, a reckoning may be coming. The Academy is investigating and will decide if this year’s Best Actor should face sanctions, as it stated after the Oscars that it “does not condone violence in any form.” Chris Rock, who remained composed and continued to deliver the award he was there to present, declined to file a police report and has made no public statements.
