Ok, I’m going to disagree with you on 85% to 90% of this explanation and forego the fact I think you’re “mansplaining”. Yes, people DO think celebrities are role models and heroes….especially in the black community. Now that’s somewhat calculated in that in the 1960s and into the 1970s, we did have our own “heroes” and role models within our own communities AND political leaders (local all the way to federal) who were representing us, from us and about us. With Oprah and Bill Clinton in the 1990s, black “representation” in those spaces has disappeared, leaving Disney, and today social media to “lead the black people”. I’m here in the south and being a regular person, isn’t as desirable or “flashy” or instant as being a celebrity or Instagram influencer. That doesn’t mean people are stupid it means that celebrity life is touted as better, and they are touted as someone we should want to be like, instead of your local school teacher or nurse who is actually doing something for your community.

So with that said, yes, Will Smith was someone who was promoted as “having it all” and “don’t you want to be like him”. His BRAND of “negro” although a product, made a lot of people believe in “him”….per se.

Which brings me to my second point. Yes, celebs are ordinary people and I have this debate with my male friends (mostly military guys) all the time. Just because these people are famous doesn’t mean their past, family upbringing, insecurities and human flaws go away. They actually become amplified and I know this because I teach young people how to be performers but also how to navigate the seedy world of entertainment. Choosing incredibly talented people who have very little family support (regardless of their access to legal resources) is the key, from single parent families, people who are easily suggestable and become heroes in their poverty stricken family or town, people who are often wounded and want attention and love, these are our entertainers today. The test is how bad to you want it and what are you willing to give up, do or sacrifice for fame. Look at how many NFL players and NBA guys, sign that sports contract, buy a house for their mom and then struggle to stay relevant ultimately destroying their careers because of something stupid, when it was probably old friends or cousins who they felt loyalty to, who got them into trouble. Or a girlfriend or wife who just wants prestige or money…and they’re trying to do right by her. Or producers and managers who give these people a pick me up to keep going because hundreds of people are drawing a paycheck from their performance in a movie. See NO ONE prepares people for that….being a commodity, maintaining an image, always being squeaky clean or losing your reputation. And because they have money, are beautiful and are talented… regular people aren’t really that sympathetic until they overdose or hang themselves or reveal that their ex took a sh*t in their bed just to get even with them. (You need to watch that Amazon series, The Boys).

I repeat I’m not a real fan of Will Smith, (his best work was Enemy of the State where he went up against an award winning actor who made him work for every scene he was in) but since then, I think he’s too smooth and cocky for his own good, but…BUT I also understand snapping and saying f it because you just can’t hold it together anymore. Just because he picked his moment during the Oscars and took it out on Cris Rock? …I’m not mad. Its not like he had a history of fighting or slapping, being unkind before. Its not like he shot a woman and killed her….like Alec Baldwin, who we forgave before they buried her. Its just so hypocritical to keep digging at him when its just not necessary.