Kareem Abdul-Jabbar opens up about his reluctance in speaking up about the Will Smith and Chris Rock SlapGate fiasco.

The Inside Story of Kareem Abdul-Jabbar&#8217;s Reluctant Account on the Will Smith Oscars Slap

The Inside Story of Kareem Abdul-Jabbar&#8217;s Reluctant Account on the Will Smith Oscars Slap - Netflix Junkie

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Rishika Bhardwaj is an entertainment reporter at Netflix Junkie. She has a knack for giving unbiased reviews and is always excited about providing readers with both sides of a coin. Although she is new to the scene, her love for crime and dark comedy dramas goes back a long way. Rishika previously contributed as a news reporter for the Indian Diaspora at India Abroad and also explored the concept of gender journalism by working with Network for Women in Media for one article. When she is not busy penning down insightful and engaging articles, she can be found drawing Mithila paintings.

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The Inside Story of Kareem Abdul-Jabbar&#8217;s Reluctant Account on the Will Smith Oscars Slap - netflix-junkie

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Everybody’s mouth fell wide open as <a href="http://netflixjunkie.com/tag/will-smith/">Will Smith</a> walked onstage and slapped Chris Rock right across the face at the 94th Academy Awards. The event got the term coined Slapgate, also famously known as &#8220;The Slap Heard Around the World&#8221;. Smith lost his control because his emotions got the better of him. This came after Rock joked about Jada Smith&#8217;s alopecia. With such a public display of rage, the night was something that shocked all the attendees at the Oscars. 
As this became a global event, Abdul Kareem-Jabbar weighed his thoughts in his newsletter on Substack. The American basketball player took to his Substack account and wrote a piece titled, Will Smith Did a Bad, Bad Thing. Having garnered millions, Jabbar recently opened up about why he chose to write about this.
<h2>The NBA superstar gets candid about Will Smith in his new article</h2>
Jabbar recently spoke up about why he wrote about the Smith-Rock fiasco. <a href="https://kareem.substack.com/p/special-message-from-kareem-a-bad" target="_blank" rel="noopener">In a recent article on the ‘Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’ substack,</a> he said that he was “uneasy” about talking on this matter because of the potential backlash he could face. He believed that Smith was his dear friend, but his actions led to the detriment of the Black community. It aided the prejudice that people held about the African American community.
<div class="flex-video widescreen youtube"><iframe loading="lazy" title="Kareem Abdul-Jabbar REACTS to Will Smith Oscars Slap (Exclusive)" width="1170" height="658" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/7aBGJgWLOuo?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>
The former Lakers player condemned the action, but gently provided support to the actor too. He had written that although the slap was a big mistake; it was not the basis to bring down one’s whole career. He also commended the Oscar host’s graceful handling of the situation.  
Jabbar addressed a real problem: some folks rooting for celebrities, especially women and people of color, stumble and fall. He knew The Pursuit of Happyness actor was a genuine and caring person who messed up in front of a massive audience. He did not want to perpetuate the hate that the Black community receives but wanted to speak up about what was right. 
ALSO READ: <a href="https://www.netflixjunkie.com/hollywood-news-and-thats-how-jaden-smith-had-to-most-unexpectd-reaction-to-will-smith-slapping-chris-rock/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">“And that’s how….” – Jaden Smith Had to Most Unexpected Reaction to Will Smith Slapping Chris Rock</a>
Smith eventually apologized in a video, but his apology didn&#8217;t sit well with <a href="https://www.netflixjunkie.com/netflix-news-fuk-your-hostage-video-chris-rock-exclaims-in-front-of-live-audience-about-the-will-smith-apology-video/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Chris Rock, who called it a &#8220;hostage video&#8220;</a> during a stand-up set. Meanwhile, the days that followed the 2022 Oscars saw fans storming the internet with memes and clips, and actors joined in with their opinions too. 
<h2>The aftermath of the slap echoed </h2>
The night after the Slapgate took some interesting turns. Comedian Jim Carrey expressed his disgust about Smith receiving applause for an award hours after it happened at the Oscars.
<div class="flex-video widescreen youtube"><iframe loading="lazy" title="Will Smith Slaps Chris Rock at The Oscars" width="1170" height="878" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/psIt6VL_FuU?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>
On the other hand, Tatyana Ali and Marlon Wayans showed support for Smith. And all this while, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar condemned the action but continued to root for him. Needless to say, more than a year later, even though it is not buzzing as much as it is last year, the slap still echoes and leaves masses divided with their takes on the matter.
ALSO READ: <a href="https://www.netflixjunkie.com/netflix-news-he-lives-in-hell-ufc-commentator-joe-rogan-once-got-brutally-honest-about-the-will-smith-slap-gate-comparing-the-situation-to-johnny-depps/">“He lives in hell”- UFC Commentator Joe Rogan Once Got Brutally Honest About The Will Smith Slap Gate, Comparing The Situation To Johnny Depp’s</a>
What are your thoughts on the perspectives shared by Kareem? Let us know in the comments!

“And that’s how….” – Jaden Smith Had to Most Unexpected Reaction to Will Smith
Slapping Chris Rock

“He lives in hell”- UFC Commentator Joe Rogan Once Got Brutally Honest About The
Will Smith Slap Gate, Comparing The Situation To Johnny Depp’s

Will Smith slapping Chris Rock at 2022 Academy Awards

HOLLYWOOD, CA &#8211; March 27, 2022. Chris Rock and Will Smith onstage during the show at the 94th Academy Awards at the Dolby Theatre at Ovation Hollywood on Sunday, March 27, 2022. (Myung Chun / Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)

94th Academy Awards &#8211; Show

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The Inside Story of Kareem Abdul-Jabbar's Reluctant Account on the Will Smith Oscars Slap - Netflix Junkie

Rishika Bhardwaj

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The Inside Story of Kareem Abdul-Jabbar&#039;s Reluctant Account on the Will Smith Oscars Slap

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The Inside Story of Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s Reluctant Account on the Will Smith Oscars Slap

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