I agree. That isn't the issue. The issue is what is deemed a reasonable response. It seems that, shamefully, for many people a reasonable response is physical assault.
No, I don't think a slap was unreasonable at all. The guy invaded his personal space and tried to sexually assault him in a public place...I thought Will was particularly gracious tbh, and the guy deserved the slap. You don't just go around trying to kiss whoever you feel like, and he needed to be shown that it was wrong...Will could easily have punched him, but he slapped him and not particularly hard either...
Sexual assault is unacceptable (far more than a mild slap) in any circumstance.
That was a lot less dramatic than I was expecting! Anyway the reporter wanted a reaction and he got one. The publicity, and increased public profile will more than make up for any temporary physical discomfort.
No, I don't think a slap was unreasonable at all. The guy invaded his personal space and tried to sexually assault him in a public place...I thought Will was particularly gracious tbh, and the guy deserved the slap. You don't just go around trying to kiss whoever you feel like, and he needed to be shown that it was wrong...Will could easily have punched him, but he slapped him and not particularly hard either...
Sexual assault is unacceptable (far more than a mild slap) in any circumstance.
Exactly the reporter went too far and invaded his private space, he probably did deserve a slap. Yes Violence is wrong in most cases but it was hardly a hard smack that would have any lasting damage on the reporter, it was a gentle tap and it is not like Will Smith was dishing out an unprovoked attack nor is it likely that Smith is an out and out thug who constantly attacks people for no reason.
The reporter was in the wrong, but I don't think Will should have hit him either. If the reporter kept clinging onto him and the only way to get him off is hit him fair enough, but he had already pushed him away. If it had been a girl who tried this I doubt Will would have slapped her afterwards.
I wonder what the result would have been without the cameras around?
That reporter is a good-looking young man.
Guess we'll never know.
Agree with your post apart from the BIB - no he isn't.
You can tell by the 'reporter's' sheepish retreat that the stunt backfired - even trying to style it out misfires: he's lucky his teeth are still intact after he grabbed Smith by the neck. And no, grabbing someone round the neck to forcibly kiss them isn't standard European etiquette either.:rolleyes: Will Smith 2;Dennis Pennis mkII 0.00
I like Will Smith but he had no right to slap the guy. The situation was done with, the reporter had stopped and Smith was walking away. Makes Smith look like a big homophobe if you ask me. "He tried to kiss me on the mouth". Oh, boo hoo.
And the guy had no right to kiss him on the mouth. If it was a male trying to kiss a female, or a female trying to kiss a male, or a female trying to kiss a female - it doesn't matter. He had no right to do so.
I agree. That isn't the issue. The issue is what is deemed a reasonable response. It seems that, shamefully, for many people a reasonable response is physical assault.
I'm not sure why Will felt the need to lightly slap him either. A simple push would have been enough the first time round.
I like Will Smith but he had no right to slap the guy. The situation was done with, the reporter had stopped and Smith was walking away. Makes Smith look like a big homophobe if you ask me. "He tried to kiss me on the mouth". Oh, boo hoo.
Right so if it had been Nicole scherzinger your reaction would have been "Oh boo hoo"? And I don't see how this makes Will look homophobic at all? Maybe a little over the top but not homophobic.
I like Will Smith but he had no right to slap the guy. The situation was done with, the reporter had stopped and Smith was walking away. Makes Smith look like a big homophobe if you ask me. "He tried to kiss me on the mouth". Oh, boo hoo.
So because he didn't want a stranger to kiss him on the mouth that means he must be homophobic? I'm bisexual and if a stranger tried to kiss me on the mouth, male or female, I'd react in the exact same way.
I've heard it all now.. Because Will Smith didn't like the man trying to forcibly kiss him on the mouth .. This make Will Homophobic.. Rediculous comment of the week
I like Will Smith but he had no right to slap the guy. The situation was done with, the reporter had stopped and Smith was walking away. Makes Smith look like a big homophobe if you ask me. "He tried to kiss me on the mouth". Oh, boo hoo.
Wow, I've heard some gibberish on these boards but this takes the prize...
So, a prankster reporter goes in for a kiss and Will Smith first pushes him away, slaps him... then later tries to joke it off and says "it's alright"...
I actually loved that he did that, called him on it instead of just accepting it. I did feel for the reporter who looked like he wanted to ground to open up and swallow him though.
As I said on a similar thread on another forum, Smith's reaction reeks of homophobia. Even worse have been the comments I've read along the lines of "If it had been me I would've kicked his head in".
I love the way some people are so quick to shout "homophobia". I take it you would be happy with random strangers kissing you or groping you :rolleyes:. It belittles what a lot of gay people go through when stupid things like this are given such a label.
Will probably shouldn't have slapped him, but I can't say I blame him. It was an incredibly light "slap" anyway and the man kind of deserved it.
As I said on a similar thread on another forum, Smith's reaction reeks of homophobia. Even worse have been the comments I've read along the lines of "If it had been me I would've kicked his head in".
I'm not sure how not relishing the thought of an unsolicited kiss on the lips from a stranger can be passed off as homophobia.
Comments
No, I don't think a slap was unreasonable at all. The guy invaded his personal space and tried to sexually assault him in a public place...I thought Will was particularly gracious tbh, and the guy deserved the slap. You don't just go around trying to kiss whoever you feel like, and he needed to be shown that it was wrong...Will could easily have punched him, but he slapped him and not particularly hard either...
Sexual assault is unacceptable (far more than a mild slap) in any circumstance.
Actually, I would. Because a slap is a bit of an over-reaction to someone leaning in for a kiss.
But as I said, in this case it seems to have been blown out of proportion. Smith wasn't forcibly snogged, the reporter wasn't hurt.
Exactly the reporter went too far and invaded his private space, he probably did deserve a slap. Yes Violence is wrong in most cases but it was hardly a hard smack that would have any lasting damage on the reporter, it was a gentle tap and it is not like Will Smith was dishing out an unprovoked attack nor is it likely that Smith is an out and out thug who constantly attacks people for no reason.
You can tell by the 'reporter's' sheepish retreat that the stunt backfired - even trying to style it out misfires: he's lucky his teeth are still intact after he grabbed Smith by the neck. And no, grabbing someone round the neck to forcibly kiss them isn't standard European etiquette either.:rolleyes: Will Smith 2;Dennis Pennis mkII 0.00
I'm not sure why Will felt the need to lightly slap him either. A simple push would have been enough the first time round.
Right so if it had been Nicole scherzinger your reaction would have been "Oh boo hoo"? And I don't see how this makes Will look homophobic at all? Maybe a little over the top but not homophobic.
So because he didn't want a stranger to kiss him on the mouth that means he must be homophobic? I'm bisexual and if a stranger tried to kiss me on the mouth, male or female, I'd react in the exact same way.
http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/showbiz/4326825/Will-Smith-slaps-reporter-at-Russian-premiere-of-Men-In-Black-III.html
Is it alright though?
Will probably shouldn't have slapped him, but I can't say I blame him. It was an incredibly light "slap" anyway and the man kind of deserved it.
Oh well. I'm not sure how physically assaulting someone can be passed off as a legitimate response.