“Today” show host Craig Melvin drew criticism Monday for comments about the smack heard around the world, which happened during the 94th annual Academy Awards between entertainment heavyweights Chris Rock and Will Smith.
Smith struck Rock on the Oscars telecast after Rock made a joke about Smith’s wife, Jada Pinkett Smith. Chris said that Jada would appear in the next “G.I. Jane” movie, an apparent reference to her haircut. She suffers from an autoimmune disease that attacks the hair follicles resulting in hair loss.
According to the New York Post, Melvin said Smith’s behavior reinforces “this long-held perception … that men of color can’t control their rage and anger.”
“If you’re raising a boy, especially in this country, you spend so much time talking to our kids about keeping your hands to yourself, controlling your emotions, and then there’s also this long-held perception in this country that men of color, especially, can’t control their rage and their anger, and to see someone who’s been that beloved for decades.”
Media members like Rolands Martin took to Twitter, expressing their disagreement with the remarks made by Melvin.
“I 100% disagree with @craigmelvin@kaj33 and anyone else who says the #WillSmith@chrisrock is a bad reflection on Black men,” Martin tweeted.
“We’ve got stop advancing this notion that of one Black man does something it’s on all of us. Nope. We don’t say that about white men. Right @AlecBaldwin?”
The Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences issued a concise statement after the Oscars last night.
“The Academy does not condone violence of any form.” It then added, “Tonight we are delighted to celebrate our 94th Academy Awards winners, who deserve this moment of recognition from their peers and movie lovers around the world.”
