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Christian Leaders Speak Out After Will Smith Attacks Chris Rock for Joke About Wife

AP Photo/Chris Pizzello
AP Photo/Chris Pizzello
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By Tré Goins-Phillips
Editor

March 28, 2022

There has been no shortage of responses to the stunning moment at Sunday night’s Academy Awards, when actor Will Smith slapped comedian Chris Rock, who was presenting on stage, for a joke about Jada Pinkett Smith.

Rock joked about Jada’s shaved head, which is due to alopecia, though it’s not clear the comedian knew her condition.

After making the quip, Smith walked onto the stage and struck Rock across the face before screaming profanely at the “Spiral” actor for daring to make fun of his wife.

If you haven’t seen the slap seen ’round the world, here it is:

Here's the moment Chris Rock made a "G.I. Jane 2" joke about Jada Pinkett Smith, prompting Will Smith to punch him and yell, "Leave my wife’s name out of your f–king mouth." #Oscars pic.twitter.com/kHTZXI6kuL

— Variety (@Variety) March 28, 2022

Later in the night, when Smith accepted the Oscar for his performance in “King Richard,” the actor tearfully apologized to The Academy (but did not mention Rock) and referenced a bit of wisdom given to him by fellow celebrity Denzel Washington, who is outspokenly Christian.

“At your highest moment, be careful. That’s when the devil comes for you,” Washington told Smith.

Since the entire scene unfolded, several Christian leaders have chimed in on social media, sharing their thoughts on the disturbing incident that stole the show on Hollywood’s biggest night:

“At your highest moment, be careful, that's when the devil comes for you."- Denzel Washington to Will Smith.
Good advice to remember for Will and all of us.

— Greg Laurie (@greglaurie) March 28, 2022

“At your highest moment be careful, that's when the devil comes for you."
– Denzel Washington

“Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.”
– James 4:7

What a warning for us all. #Oscars pic.twitter.com/EwykuB5L3S

— Benjamin Watson (@BenjaminSWatson) March 28, 2022

We’ve established that Denzel is a wise man.

— Ross Douthat (@DouthatNYT) March 28, 2022

Unpopular Opinion: Academy security should have escorted Will out immediately. Words are never an excuse for hitting someone nor a legal defense for assault. Impressed with how well Chris Rock handled himself.

— Lucas Miles (@lucasmiles) March 28, 2022

One of the most gracious responses came from Josh Broome, a former porn star who is now a pastor.

“I am a follower of Jesus first in every area of my life, so with that said, would I have responded in this way? No, but would I have addressed it man-to-man? Absolutely, yes, 100%,” Broome wrote in an Instagram post. “The development of meekness and maturity as a Christian takes time. Meekness is not allowing people to disrespect you and walk over all over you, but it is having an appropriate amount of restraint.”

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“With that said, as a husband, you’re also called [to] protect your family at all costs,” he continued. “To be clear, I do not celebrate the fact that Will did this, but is there a time in my life that I would have responded this way? Yes, for certain. What is inside of you will come out when pressed hard enough, regardless of the stage.”

Broome went on to write he is a “fan” of Smith and noted he is praying for “reconciliation.”

More than anything, though, the pastor said he sees what unfolded at the Oscars ceremony as a symptom of a culture that has totally rejected Jesus.

“It is sad,” Broome wrote. “We live in an incredibly broken world that needs Jesus desperately. I don’t know the status of either [man’s] heart when it comes to salvation, but I pray that this moment is one to reflect upon to surrender to the only One who can make all things new.”

***As the number of voices facing big-tech censorship continues to grow, please sign up for Faithwire’s daily newsletter and download the CBN News app, developed by our parent company, to stay up-to-date with the latest news from a distinctly Christian perspective.***

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