NBA Hall of Famer Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, who is one of America’s most thoughtful and respected Black voices, wrote this on his website about Will’s Smith slap of Chris Rock at the Academy Awards:

“When Will Smith stormed onto the Oscar stage to strike Chris Rock for making a joke about his wife’s short hair, he did a lot more damage than just to Rock’s face. With a single petulant blow, he advocated violence, diminished women, insulted the entertainment industry, and perpetuated stereotypes about the Black community.”

Read more at Abdul-Jabbar’s reader-supported newsletter on substack.

Watch: Will Smith Slaps Chris Rock