And the Oscar for violence begets violence goes to … Hollywood!

By Warren Nunn

Violence begets violence. No surprise there. The 2022 Oscars event will be clearly remembered for a violent act of anger and revenge.

When actor Will Smith slapped comedian/actor Chris Rock for a joke about Smith’s wife, Hollywood and pundits all over went into meltdown.

That an actor would commit such violence is an outrage, they said … and so it is.

But it is staggering, head-shaking hypocrisy of anyone in Hollywood to complain about a public display of violence.

Hollywood is built on violence. The Oscars rewards those who make movies containing violence.

For decades, Hollywood has poured out countless films with arguably millions of acts of violence. All in the name of “entertainment”.

On one level, only Hollywood could script something like this. And it would take an Oscar-winning performance from the participants to pull it off.

Just as it is in the movies, you have a protagonist who is trying to provoke a response. The movie-goer can see that the protagonist is going to get what he deserves. He’ll go too far and the person on the receiving end of his “unjust actions” will be punished.

We don’t like abuse

Those who run the Oscars have a policy that says it is “categorically opposed to any form of abuse, harassment or discrimination”.

And yet it rewards those who portray all of those things and much more.

If those who run the Oscars really took that sentiment to its obvious conclusion then not one of the movies containing violence would be recognised in any category.

Take a moment to reflect on any movie you have watched at any time. How many acts of violence were there?

How many times did the “good guy” exact revenge on the “bad guy”?

Was there a fist fight?

Did he/she kill the villain?

Did he/she pick up a gun and blow away the problem?

Was there an exchange of vitriolic words?

Did the wronged person develop a plan to right said wrong?

And was there any form of abuse, harassment or discrimination displayed?

And what about discrimination?

And for the Oscars crowd to preach against discrimination is farcical.

Hollywood has long discriminated against women by using their bodies to “entertain” the world.

How much flesh have you seen in the movies you’ve watched?

A woman’s body displayed and exploited almost every time I’d suggest.

Am I wrong?

And just who is the best actor?

So after decade after decade of on-screen violence and the exploitation of women, Hollywood is outraged by violence?

This is the right time to be angry at an “industry” that has grossly failed humanity on so many levels.

It’s all an act. Hollywood, the Oscars crowd, however you want to describe the “industry” … it has made obscene money from violence.

It feeds on violence; it promotes violence; it encourages violence. And it encourages much more than that.

And the other Hollywood theme to top this sad event is the fact that Will Smith won the Best Actor award for his role in the movie King Richard. And the talk is that Smith may be stripped of his award. And cancelled as well, no doubt.

It’s facetious I know, but I’d suggest that face slap was an Oscar-winning performance too.

UPDATE 9 April 2022: The “industry” has barred Will Smith for 10 years.  And the farce continues ….