The Tribune

EDITOR, The Tribune.

The famed JoBeth Coleby-Davis Tweet about American actress Jada Pinkett Smith has created a ruckus among supporters of the Opposition Free National Movement (FNM). The Tweet was posted subsequent to Will Smith striking comedian Chris Rock in the face after the latter joked about Smith’s wife, Jada, looking like the fictional character GI Jane. Jada Smith suffers from alopecia, which explains her bald head.

After assaulting Rock, the Academy went ahead and awarded Smith Best Actor Oscar for his role in the biopic King Richard, although there are now talks that the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has launched an investigation into his conduct. The incident in question occurred at the 94th Academy Awards at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles on March 27. Ironically, that would be the same day Prime Minister Philip Davis held a crime conclave to address the spate of violent killings by various gangs in the inner-city areas of Nassau.

The vociferous reaction of FNMs is being viewed as a tempest in a teapot by Progressive Liberal Party supporters, who have raised the issue of former Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis’ recent use of inflammatory words which were directed at the Davis administration. Be that as it may, the Coleby-Davis Tweet seemed to have approved of Will Smith’s violent behaviour, at a time when so many young people in Nassau are either unable or unwilling to engage in conflict resolution to settle their differences. Some of the violence in Nassau stems from domestic issues, such as an individual insulting the spouse of a violent thug or infidelity. A former classmate of mine was murdered in 2011 for having an intimate tryst with the girlfriend of another man. This romantic fling brings to mind one August Alsina who had intimate relations with a married celebrity. I will leave that right there.

To her credit, Coleby-Davis was prudent in offering an apology (or retraction) for her comments, I understand. However, I do believe that her original comments fortuitously revealed her mindset regarding what transpired at the Oscars. It was an unwitting endorsement of Smith’s actions as if he were a knight in shining armor coming to the rescue of his beleaguered wife. However, I chose to view Smith as a thug. He had no right to assault Chris Rock. Had that been Dwayne The Rock Johnson on stage, Will Smith wouldn’t have dared to do what he did to Rock, who weighs about 168 pounds.

Had there been no negative response, would Coleby-Davis have apologised? I doubt it. This is a teachable moment for the rookie MP.

KEVIN EVANS

Freeport, Grand Bahama

March 29, 2022.